planning

“Planning and Possibility: How Clear Are Your Plans?”

16 December 2024 in quote tagged Chester Barnard / coach / coaches / coaching / goals / planning / plans / quote

The image features a clean, grid-patterned white background. Across the top of the image, the word "PLANNING" is spelled out in black letters using Scrabble-style tiles. Below the tiles, a wooden pencil with a red eraser is placed horizontally, aligning neatly with the text above. Beneath the image elements, the quote "Planning is one of the many catchwords whose present popularity is roughly proportionate to the obscurity of its definition." (Chester Barnard) is written in bold, black text, standing out clearly against the white background. The overall layout is simple, minimalistic, and focused.

“Planning is one of the many catchwords whose present popularity is roughly proportionate to the obscurity of its definition.”
— Chester Barnard

Chester Barnard, a notable executive and author on organizational management, highlighted the complexity of planning long before it became a buzzword in personal development. His observation encourages us to pause and reflect: what do we actually mean by “planning,” and is it truly serving us?

Is This the Right Goal for You?

In coaching conversations, planning often surfaces when clients are working toward achieving a specific goal. But before diving into how to get there, a critical first step is often overlooked: is this goal something they truly want?

Clients can find themselves chasing goals that feel logical — the next step on a traditional path — or goals that others expect of them. When this happens, the plan becomes a chore rather than a source of inspiration. As coaches, we can help clients pause and ask:

Is this goal something I would love?
Or is it something I feel I should want?

This simple exploration can shift the entire planning process from obligation to inspiration, creating a foundation that feels aligned and authentic.

Staying Open to Insight and Spontaneity

Once a goal is clear, how do we plan in a way that supports progress while staying open to spontaneity and insight? Rigid plans can sometimes narrow our vision, causing us to miss opportunities that arise along the way.

Consider asking:

Are you looking for the next step, or a next step?
How might you hold your plan lightly, allowing space for creativity and unexpected opportunities?

Staying flexible doesn’t mean abandoning planning altogether; it’s about finding the balance between structure and flow. This mindset can lead to richer, more fulfilling outcomes than a tightly controlled roadmap ever could.

Plans: A Launchpad or a Holding Pattern?

Not all plans move us forward. Some plans keep us stuck in perpetual preparation, a state of “not quite ready yet.” When planning becomes a way to avoid action or uncertainty, it’s worth examining the plan itself:

Is your plan helping you move forward, or is it keeping you stuck?
What’s one small action you could take today, even if your plan isn’t perfect?

The courage to act, even imperfectly, often sparks momentum and clarity that no amount of planning can replicate.

Coaching the Paradox of Planning and Uncertainty

As coaches, part of our role is to help clients embrace the paradox of planning: to create a vision for the future while staying grounded in the present. Plans are useful tools, but they are not the whole picture.

How does your coaching practice help clients hold space for uncertainty alongside their plans?
How might you support them in seeing plans as guides, not guarantees?

By helping clients navigate this delicate balance, we encourage them to remain curious, flexible, and open to the unexpected — qualities that often lead to the most meaningful growth.

Closing Reflection

Planning has its place, but it’s the clarity of intention and openness to insight that truly propel us forward. As Chester Barnard reminds us, planning can easily become a vague buzzword. Let’s bring it back to its essence: a tool to support action, not a substitute for it.

How might you, as a coach, help your clients approach planning with fresh eyes? And where in your own life could you hold a plan a little more lightly??

About Jen Waller

Jen Waller is a transformative coach dedicated to empowering individuals to get out of their own way and make a meaningful impact in the world. With an impactful, nurturing coaching style, Jen supports clients in unlocking their potential and achieving their goals. As an experienced coach and trainer, she guides clients from self-doubt to success.

Discover how Jen can support you to get out of your own way here

Flexibility in Action: Navigating Life’s Twists with Grace

12 March 2024 in quote tagged adaptability / coach / coaches / coaching / coincidence / flexibility / planning / proverb

A 3D faceless human figure is stood to the right of a flip chart and stand. The figure is wearing a black tie and is pointing to the flip chart. The words on the flip chart reads: "Coincidence defeats a well-laid plan" (Filipino proverb)

Happy Tuesday! Today’s quote is actually a proverb:

“Coincidence defeats a well-laid plan” (Filipino proverb)

While it may seem counterintuitive, this proverb carries profound wisdom that resonates with both our personal and professional experiences.

In our fast-paced world, we can often pride ourselves on meticulous planning and strategic thinking. We meticulously outline our goals, chart our course of action, and leave little room for deviation. However, despite our best efforts, life has a way of throwing unexpected curveballs our way.

Think about a time when you meticulously planned every detail of an event or project, only to have it derailed by an unforeseen coincidence or twist of fate. Perhaps it was a chance encounter that led to a serendipitous opportunity, or a random event that completely altered the trajectory of your plans. Whatever the case, these moments serve as powerful reminders that we are not always in control of our circumstances.

Real life can be fluid, and situations can change in manners we could never have imagined. Let’s face it; a global pandemic in 2020 was not on many people’s radar as a possibility. By necessity, many plans had to be altered, be they personal or business ones.

So, how do we reconcile the tension between planning for the future and embracing the uncertainty of the present? How do we navigate the delicate balance between intentionality and spontaneity in our coaching practice?

Flexibility and Adaptability

One approach is to adopt flexibility and adaptability. Instead of rigidly adhering to our plans, we can learn to embrace the unexpected and see coincidences as potential catalysts for growth and innovation. Rather than viewing them as obstacles to our success, we can reframe them as opportunities for learning and discovery. Or just look at them as the next step to complete.

Moreover, coincidences often have a way of revealing hidden patterns or connections that we may not have noticed before. They can serve as valuable clues or signposts that guide us toward new insights or directions. By remaining open and receptive to these synchronicities, we can tap into a deeper wisdom that transcends our logical reasoning.

In my coaching practice, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of embracing coincidence and spontaneity. Instead of viewing them as disruptive forces, I encourage my clients to see them as invitations to explore new possibilities and perspectives. By letting go of rigid expectations and embracing the flow of life, they often discover hidden opportunities and insights that lead to profound shifts in their thinking and behavior. When we think that something “should” happen a certain way, then it’s entirely possible we just aren’t thinking to look for other potentially easier or better routes, etc.

By the very conversational style of coaching, it lends itself to being flexible and adaptable. You may have an idea where the conversation is heading, but at any question, it may become obvious it needs to diverge in a different direction.

I’ve spoken to so many over the years who are just starting as a coach and feel that they should have the conversation fixed in their heads ahead of time. That they need to know all the questions that they “should” ask and have a plan for any technique, story, or exercise they think they may use during the session.

Clinging onto that belief, that way of thinking means that they also tell me that they feel pressure and tension. When they let go of that expectation and release that thinking, they find that they can relax into their coaching, and the conversation usually flows much more easily.

Of course, this is not to say that planning is irrelevant or unnecessary. Planning provides us with a sense of direction and purpose, helping us to stay focused and organized in pursuit of our goals. However, it’s essential to recognize that plans are not set in stone and that flexibility is key to navigating the complexities of life.

In conclusion, the proverb “Coincidence defeats a well-laid plan” reminds us of the inherent unpredictability of life and the importance of remaining open and adaptable in the face of uncertainty. By embracing coincidence as a natural part of the human experience, we can harness its transformative power and navigate life’s twists and turns with grace and resilience.

About Jen Waller

Jen Waller is on a mission to support, nurture and encourage coaching skills and talents from non-coach to coach and beyond.

As an experienced coach and trainer Jen is happy to utilise all skills at her disposal to assist clients from getting out of their own way and making a difference in the world with their coaching. Find out more about the support Jen offers here.

The Power of Planning: Navigating the Coaching Journey with Purpose

10 February 2024 in quote tagged coach / coaches / coaching / Dwight D Eisenhower / flexibility / plan / planning / quote / success

A framed white board with a red, blue and green pen sat on the ledge underneath. The text on the board reads: "In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable." (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

Today’s quote is:

“In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

This thought-provoking statement challenges us to reconsider the role of plans in our coaching journeys. As coaches, it’s time to reflect on the plans we’ve crafted and understand that while life may throw curveballs, the act of planning remains an indispensable tool for success.

The Value of Planning:

Life is unpredictable, and coaching is no exception. Plans may not always unfold as expected, but this doesn’t diminish the significance of the planning process. Planning provides us with a roadmap, offering a sense of direction and purpose. It’s a tool that helps us navigate the complexities of our coaching endeavors, offering a foundation upon which we can build and adapt.

Revisiting Your Plan:

My personal take is that a plan is useful—until it isn’t. When I worked as a trainer, I experimented with various methods of writing training plans. Some provided a detailed minute-by-minute outline, while others were more of a general framework—mainly to ensure that if, for some reason, I was unavailable on the day, a colleague could step in and deliver the session.

When I personally delivered the session, the training that worked best was when I used the plans as a guide rather than a rigid set of rules, adapting the content to the individuals in the room and aiming for our desired outcome by the end of the session. I recall one session in the corporate world that was supposed to solely teach new information, but it quickly became evident that a lack of knowledge was not the issue. So, I abandoned the plan and used the day to focus on addressing the actual issues.

If you have a plan in place, today is an opportune moment to revisit it. Take the time to evaluate whether it still aligns with your goals, aspirations and the general direction you want to be heading. Plans are not set in stone; they are dynamic guides that can evolve with changing circumstances. Ask yourself: Is the plan serving its purpose, or does it require adjustments? Reflecting on these questions ensures that your plan remains a relevant and effective tool in your coaching toolkit.

Adaptability is Key:

Eisenhower’s quote emphasizes the indispensable nature of planning, even when plans may prove useless in the face of unexpected challenges. This apparent paradox highlights the importance of adaptability. A rigid adherence to a plan can lead to frustration and disappointment, but viewing your plan as a flexible guide allows for adjustments that align with your changing needs and circumstances.

Embracing Flexibility:

I think that having a coaching business is a journey marked by growth and evolution, and your plan should reflect that. Embrace the flexibility inherent in planning, acknowledging that detours and adjustments are part of the process. By doing so, you empower yourself to navigate unforeseen challenges while staying true to your overarching goals.

For example, just because you start working with one particular set of clients does not mean that you are never allowed to work with anyone different in the future. (So for anyone that feels they need to have it all figured out before working with “real clients” then my invitation to you is to experiment and remember you’re allowed to change your mind in the future.)

Conclusion:

In the ever-changing landscape of having a coaching business, planning remains a cornerstone of success for many. Today’s quote serves as a reminder that while plans themselves may not always unfold as intended, the process of planning is indispensable – if nothing else it helps you be in the same place as your client at a pre-arranged time! Take the time to reflect on your own plans, ensuring they continue to serve your purpose. Embrace the adaptability that planning affords, and let it guide you through the dynamic and fulfilling journey. After all, it’s not about the perfection of the plan, but the empowerment derived from the planning process itself.