THE GAP (GOALS, ACTIONS & PLANS)

 20220602 Module 13

Key Idea: The GAP is between where we are now and where we want to be. We can close the GAP by clearly identifying the GOAL, ACTIONS & PLANS that need to be taken.

I very much dislike being late to an appointment. I do not enjoy rushing to get out of the house, and I certainly do not relish weaving through rush-hour traffic. Worst of all, being late puts me in a foul mood, as I believe that being late is being disrespectful of the other person. Being late could potentially derail the entire appointment. And yet, despite my great disdain toward tardiness, I still find myself having punctuality issues approximately once every week. My Goal is to always be punctual, but I’m not nearly where I want to be in practice. The difference between where I want to be and where I am now is known as the GAP.

The GAP exists because, while I say I want to be punctual, yet I do not plan ahead. Or I habitually go to bed late and end up oversleeping. I do not plan my day the night before and I overuse the Snooze button. I do not schedule my calendar and I always assume the best of traffic. All these examples show that while I say I value punctuality, my habits and actions prove otherwise. 

I have the GOAL I want to achieve (that is to be punctual for my every appointment), but it may be too general to inspire real success. In order to give myself a better chance at accomplishing my goal, I have to set a more Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant & Time-Bound (S.M.A.R.T.) Goal. (Refer to diagram attached). Learning to set a S.M.A.R.T. Goal will give me (and you) a better chance of achieving whatever it is that I (and you) set out to do.

However, there are times when setting a Goal alone simply isn’t enough. Allow me to explain. The Goal that is set is the destination you want to arrive at, but simply knowing the destination doesn’t solve the “how” of getting there. Just like any travel plans, you need to figure out the Route Map and the vehicles that get you there. Therefore, by supplementing your goals with Actions (or Habits) and Plans (or Systems or Tools), you further increase your probability of arriving at your destination. So by using my earlier example, my SMART Goal is “I will be 15 minutes early to my appointments so that I can be relaxed, prepared & present, while honouring my time.” My habits are to sleep early, set the alarm, not snooze, plan the route, determine my attire the day before, etc. and my System is to make use of my Planner, Schedule appointments with buffer time and to prepare & plan things out the night before.

Most people know what they want, but they don’t necessarily know how to get there. Thankfully, the Coach gets to be the travel partner to brainstorm, map out & celebrate the milestones of the Coachee. Travel adventures are more fun when you get to share them with someone you care about.