by Penny Dablin

Coaching has been described by some people as helping the client to
close the gap between where they are now and where they would like to be.

This month I’d like to looking at closing that gap with GAP!

G – Goals

We can’t begin to close the gap between here and there if we don’t know
what “there” is. What do you really want to achieve in this life? Where
would you like to go? Who would you like to be? Who would you like to know?
Make a huge list of everything you would like to have or to do or to be.

Now consider why. Why do you want these things? Will they improve your
life significantly? Will they make you happier? Or healthier? Or richer?
Or better liked? Or whatever is important to you? If you can’t come up with
a strong reason why you want something then cross it off the list.

Take the things that are left and rewrite them as SMART goals. John
Whitmore, in his book, Coaching for Performance, defines SMART goals as
those that are Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and Timed.

That is they should be Specific not woolly generalisations and they must
be phrased in the present tense as if they were already true.

They should be Measurable – how much money is “rich” for you?.

They should be Agreed with anyone else who is involved – you might
want to spend your life sailing round the world but how does that impact
your family?

The goals should be Realistic – but beware of putting limitations
on your goals because of your small vision.

And they should be Timed, that is they should have a date for their
achievement.

Keep the written list of goals in front of you and refer to it often
throughout your days and weeks as you work towards achieving these goals.

A – Attitude

What is your attitude towards achieving your goals? Do you think they
are achievable? Have you even done the exercise above?

If you really want to close the GAP then you need to cultivate a
positive, action-oriented attitude. Believe you can do whatever you choose
to do. Ask yourself empowering questions. Keep looking at what you can do
rather than what you can’t do.

And A is also for Action.

Without action a goal is just a dream. You can make any number of
decisions but until you act on those decisions, nothing will happen. Look
at your goals, break them down into actions you can take within a short
time frame. What can you do TODAY to move one step closer to that specific
goal? And having decided what it is, take the action – just do it!

P – Persistence

You will very probably find that the road to achieving your goals is
neither straight nor easy. You will face set backs and difficulties –
that’s life! As the Americans say “get over it”. Rather than allow these
set backs to set you back, keep on. Be persistent.

I have a piece by Calvin Coolidge on the wall of my office to remind me
of this point whenever I am feeling discouraged in life:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with
talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the
human race.”

So persist in the face of adversity, don’t crumble. But remember, “if you
keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve
always got.”

If you’re failing to achieve the results you want to achieve you may
need to revisit your actions. Are you using the most effective strategies?
Is there someone else who could help you? Do you know of anyone else who
has done what you want to do? Can you speak to them and ask their advice?
Or read their biography?

So, if you want to close the gap between where you are today and where
you want to be, study the GAP!

Set your Goals

Watch your Attitude and take Action

And above all, keep Persisting until you succeed.