A Coaching Power Tool By Kellie Gaffney, Leading ChangeCoach, UNITED STATES
Illustrating the Importance of Conscious and Purposeful Action: Good Intentions vs. Being Intentional
A Power Tool (ICA) is used in coaching to understand and view our perspectives conceptualized through dualities like good or bad and empowered or disempowered, shedding light on the profound truth: a perspective on anything is but a matter of choice.
In my coaching practice, as well as in my own journey of personal development, I’ve come to recognize the powerful dichotomy of ‘Good Intentions vs. Being Intentional’ as a tool for illustrating the importance of conscious and purposeful action. Adopting this approach has the potential to reshape both your personal and professional life profoundly.
Imagine a mindset where every choice counts and every decision is a deliberate step toward your goals. How might this new perspective reshape your life?
Intentional Living
Intentional living is about making deliberate choices aligned with your values and aspirations, not leaving your life to chance or fleeting desires. It’s a proactive stance where you’re in control, steering your life according to a clear plan or purpose. Being intentional puts you in the driver’s seat and doesn’t leave things to chance.
Unlike wishful thinking or the concept of “manifestation,” which often rely on the hope that mere desire will bring about change, intentionality demands action. It involves setting clear goals and following through with concrete steps. While positive thinking and visualization can be part of setting intentions, they are not substitutes for the hard work required to achieve your goals.
Setting Intentions
- Specificity: Clearly define what you want to achieve.
- Actionability: Outlining the steps you need to take to reach your goals.
- Accountability: Regularly reviewing your progress and adjusting as necessary.
Examples of Intentional Living
- Career Choices: Choosing a job not just for the paycheck, but because it aligns with your personal values and long-term career goals.
- Relationships: Actively deciding to spend time with people who support and uplift you, while distancing yourself from toxic relationships.
- Daily Habits: Opting to create a morning routine that sets a positive tone for the day, such as meditating, journaling, or exercising, instead of starting your day in a rush.
Good intentions refer to the desire or plan to do good or act positively, often based on one’s values or moral compass. It’s the preliminary thought or wish to bring about positive outcomes, either for oneself or others. However, good intentions may not always translate into action. They are the seeds of thought that have the potential to lead to meaningful change but can sometimes remain as just that: intentions. A classic example of good intentions is making New Year’s resolutions with a genuine desire to improve but without a concrete plan or commitment to see them through.
Being intentional, on the other hand, is the active pursuit of specific outcomes through deliberate choices and actions. It goes beyond merely having a good intention; it involves strategic planning, setting clear goals, and taking actionable steps to achieve those goals. Being intentional means living with purpose and making decisions that align with your values, goals, and aspirations. It’s about taking control of your actions and their impact, rather than leaving things to chance or merely wishing for a desired outcome.
Key Differences
- Action vs. Desire: Having good intentions is about what you hope to achieve while being intentional is about actively working towards those achievements.
- Specificity and Planning: Good intentions can be vague and broad, such as wanting to be healthier. Being intentional involves specific goals and plans, like deciding to exercise for 30 minutes every day.
- Commitment: Intentionality requires a higher level of commitment. It’s not just about wanting to do something; it’s about committing to the steps necessary to make it happen.
- Outcome: Being intentional is more likely to lead to tangible results because it involves planning and action. Good intentions, without follow-through, may not lead to any outcome.
The Shift from Good Intentions to Being Intentional
- Clarify Goals: The client defines what they want to achieve with as much detail as possible
- Develop a Plan: The clientbreaks down their goals into actionable steps
- Set Milestones: The clientcreates short-term targets that will help them gauge progress
- Reflect and Adjust: The client regularly reviews their actions and progress.
Apply the 5 E’s Model to Achieving Desired Outcome
1. Explore the Dreamscape
- Objective: Understand the client’s goals and underlying motivations.
- Action Steps:
- Ask the client to articulate their desired outcome.
- Use the ‘5 whys’ technique to delve deeper into their motivations.
- Assess the balance between the costs of inaction and the potential impacts of change.
2. Envision the Future
- Objective: Help the client vividly imagine achieving their goal.
- Action Steps:
- Guide the client to describe their success in rich, sensory detail.
- Encourage them to visualize both the positive outcomes and the challenges of not achieving their goal.
- Collaboratively identify potential obstacles and discuss strategies for overcoming them.
3. Experiment with Small Changes
- Objective: Facilitate actionable steps towards the goal that can be tested.
- Action Steps:
- Together with the client, identify a small, achievable action they can take.
- Ensure the action is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
- Set a timeframe for completing this action, ideally within the next two weeks.
4. Evolve through Continuous Improvement
- Objective: Reflect on the experiment to foster growth.
- Action Steps:
- After the action is taken, discuss the outcome with the client.
- Highlight what worked well and identify areas for improvement.
- Encourage the client to consider what they might try next, based on these insights.
5. Enjoy the Journey
- Objective: Celebrate achievements and reinforce learning.
- Action Steps:
- Recognize and celebrate the client’s progress and achievements.
- Reflect on the journey and discuss how the lessons learned can be applied moving forward.
