Nina Madaffari

It’s all about getting to where you want to be.  

Coaching helps you get from where you are to where you want to be. The difference between start and finish is a change process. A Coach accompanies you in this change process by helping you find your own, made-to-measure strategy and path.

Clarity on where you are today many not always be that straight forward.  The Coach helps you raise awareness and explore different perspectives to make sure you clearly see yourself and everything around you.

Once the starting point is clear, the coach accompanies you to where you want to be.

Here too, defining “where you want to be” or your goal, requires great precision.

Your final destination needs precise GPS coordinates.

Defining SMART goals (S-Specific, M-Measurable, A-Ambitious and/or Achievable, R-Realistic and T-Time Bound) is a key factor.

If you want to go to the Coliseum but your navigator is set for central Italy, you will probably fail.  If your navigator is set for Rome, you’ll get closer but you may still not hit the target. If the GPS coordinates are precise you will reach the Coliseum and exactly the main entrance.

Goals and results must be distinguished.

The results are a consequence of your goal. All Olympic athletes want to win a gold medal which is often considered the goal. However, swimming 100 metres freestyle in 46 seconds is a measurable goal that could lead to winning a gold medal (the result).

Goals are under your control, whereas results are not.

You simply cannot control winning a gold medal. Just to name one reason, other competitors may be stronger than you and swim faster and this is definitely out of your control.

Breaking up a big goal into smaller goals makes the process simpler.

The coaching journey can even last one session. However, a coaching program usually lasts about 10 sessions on the same topic. Each session will have a sub goal that is functional for the bigger goal. For the swimmer, sub goals could refer to diet, muscle building, daily exercise and breathing techniques.  Every session includes an action plan.  Taking clear headed action is obligatory and makes coaching a very concrete activity.

Intrinsically, coaching moves you forward, quickly.

With a clear starting point, a well defined goal, sub goals that support the big goal and concrete action plans, moving forward only requires discipline and commitment. However when implementation does not occur and there’s no forward movement or resistance in taking action and committing, goals and action plans can be revised. Most importantly, further exploration investigates just how significant the desired results are and how strong the will and motivation is to actually GO to “where you want to be”.

Nina Coach