These two concepts seem to be close in meaning. They speak of our aspirations, and yet there is a difference between them. We understand how goal and intention are defined in coaching and why it is impossible to achieve results without them.
One day during a workshop, I was asked a simple question: “What is the difference between purpose and intention?” Several attempts to explain the difference followed. Seeing the helplessness of the students in interpreting the terms, I decided to offer my own explanation. According to the Petit Larousse dictionary, intention is a person’s volitional attitude, the decision to take an action and achieve a certain result, goal setting. While the goal is interpreted as a result that is achieved through the action of an individual or a group of people. Is there anything in common between these definitions?
In the activity of a coach, many techniques work for the process, building the future. In this case, there is no confusion in the interpretation of these concepts. Let’s figure it out. In coaching language, intent is a way to dream about the future, and a goal is a way to achieve what you have dreamed of.
Coaching without intention will turn into a mechanical plan of action, devoid of meaning.
Intention is the candle that we light to remove the darkness on the way to the goal. Moving towards the goal is a specific algorithm of actions. For example, get up, go to the switch and turn on the light in the room.
Psychologist Olivier Devever offered an interpretation that I really like. Intention answers the question “why, why?”. It gives meaning to the action to be taken, inspires and motivates. And the goal, that is, what is planned and what is achieved, answers the question “how?”.
Let’s look at an example. You say to yourself: “I have an intention, a desire, a motivation to get in good physical shape. The goal is to reduce the weight by 10 kg by December 31 and instead of 100 weigh 90 kg.
Okay, the reader will say, and what does this have to do with coaching? The most direct! In order to help the client and accompany him with enthusiasm and goodwill, we need to fill with light and energy both his intention and focus on results. Coaching without intention will turn into a mechanical plan of action, devoid of meaning. This will open the door to fussy and not very meaningful bustle, in which the client can get bogged down and drown, never reaching the goal.
On the other hand, coaching without setting a specific goal will be vague, out of touch with reality. As a result of this approach, the client will have even more reasons for passive self-examination and reflection, possible inspiration, but without any connection with real life.
People must learn to dream and plan, imagine themselves in the future and take concrete steps.
In order to move towards the goal with enthusiasm, people must learn to dream and plan, imagine themselves in the future and take steps to achieve the result. How to learn to combine these two approaches? To do this, you need to acquire the skills of formulating an intention and developing a plan to achieve the goal. The intention must be able to fix for a certain period, for example, for a day. To do this, it is good to use a picture or a metaphor, since the work with intention is done by the right hemisphere.
I recommend starting a “diary of intentions” and developing a useful habit of drawing “intention for the day” there every morning. Such a sketch will help for your to-do list, which you probably already have on paper or electronic media.
Source: elevatio.fr