Coaching Principles Part Eight - Don't Eat the Elephant All At Once

Sometimes, when I coach people, they are tempted to go for the 'Big Hairy Audacious Goals' because they have heard it is good to do that.  I do agree that there is value in setting huge goals but there is also a problem that goes with it.  Motivation. 

For some people, having a massive, aspiring, just huge goal gives them massive, huge  motivation.  But not everyone is wired that way.  Also, action is not always guaranteed if you leave it there.  

Massive goals need to be broken down into tiny, tiny actions.  Humans tend to take the path of least resistance when it comes to doing stuff...some would go so far as to say humans are basically lazy!  Maybe.  However, thinking tiny, bite-size pieces means a person can do something small today, tomorrow and then the next day...  In my experience, lots of tiny actions lead to stuff getting done. It feels manageable and it is motivating.  

Some examples, 'I want to get fit so I have signed up for the London Marathon.  I started well but, I have lost my motivation now.'  

Cartoon by Alan Evans, Made to Measure Training

The marathon is the elephant.  Bite size actions would be, 'What could you do today and everyday that would help towards getting you ready for the marathon?' Getting fitter for a marathon means not just putting in miles on the road but also means changing your habits and attitude about fitness.  I always look for things that you can do on the way to doing something else.



A personal example.   Tidying up is a pain if you are not motivated that way (I am not particularly).  However, a tip someone taught me once was to 'never go anywhere empty handed.'  In other words, on your many journeys around the house, up and down stairs, there is always something that needs taking from one place to another - grab something on the way.  It is a tiny action, using the path of least resistance and something would have been cleared away with minimal effort, on the way to do something else.

Back to our marathon runner...or not.
Easy examples that are on the path of least resistance for getting fitter might include:

• Always use the stairs not a lift
• Walk when you can instead of tubes or car journeys
• Refuse the dessert
• Eat smaller portions of 'crappy' food
• Have 3 portions of fruit for breakfast (so you are already on your way then!)
• Do something physical everyday even if you can't be bothered to do it and even if it is 10 minutes (Someone defined commitment as doing the thing even when your motivation has long since left you)

Hope that was useful...

Paul