Group Coaching is an interesting phenomenon,,, a lot like a jazz combo – one riff comes after another and flies above it. The rhythym of the group creates a certain tension that facilitates the solos. Sounds strange, I know, but the things that are said are often unpredictable.
Last night we dealt with each person’s goals. I saw that the way we normally treat a goal is similar to the way we usually deal with a project – in some sense like a straight line. Here’s the starting point – then this step, that step, and on until this milestone is reached, then that and so on. That’s not even what happens with project plans. We lose sight of “Man plans, God laughs.” When plans are fixed, we often scramble to deal with frequent emergencies, shifts in outside factors, oversights, etc. They often seem to rely on one or two people who somehow deal with the breakdowns and move forward regardless.
Goals rarely start with a well-defined plan; the plan -if any – is usually incomplete or non-existent. There’s often floundering around, searching for a useful direction. I use the prairie dog metaphor — constantly sicking your head out and scanning the horizon to see what’s next. Course correction is constant; ‘next’ is often more valuable than ‘forward.’ Too many people are discouraged by an apparent blunder. Blunders teach.
Anyhow – ’nuff said. I’ve begun to listen … Our hierarchy is often urgent – important and, if we’re good – commitments. The trouble is we confuse contexts. Commitments are paradigmical; urgent – even important are in a different domain. When I coach, I put that in the domain of my commitments. For me it’s all interconnected with a sustainable world, spiritual fulfillment and social justice. And it’s all in the domain of living a joyous and satisfying life, in harmony with earth
Posted by michaellipp 
