Act With Intention
Next in our ongoing series on ways of BEING coach, we have Tip #4 — act with intention! Intention is deliberate, magical and in some ways invisible. But there is also a very practical component to it. Here is the formula we teach our coaches:
Intention = Clear outcome + committed action + magic
What does this mean?
You must have a clear outcome
“When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life, and only to the extent that you are clear.” ~ Janet Attwood (The Passion Test)
The Attwood quote is somewhat misleading in that it implies once you know what you want, it will “show up.” This language goes to the “magic” element of intention. But more is required. The point of the quote is, be VERY clear on what you want or you will not get it.
Take a minute right now and write down something that you want. Put in detail:
- By when do you want it?
- What will you see when you have it?
- What will you hear?
- What will you feel?
Make sure you are clear. If you are not, talk to someone until you are clear. This step is so important. Many people say things like, “I want to lose weight.” But you are less likely to get the result you say you want than if you ask yourself:
- How much weight do I want to lose
- By when do I want to lose it?
- Why do I want this?
Take committed action
Action is imperative. Very few things show up because you say you want them. Once you have a clear outcome in your mind (and ideally on paper), do something! I cannot overstate this. Take action and continue taking action until you get the thing you want.
You know what action is, but what is “committed action?” Committed action is focused action. It is action directed toward the clear outcome you have defined. If you say you want to get a new client this week and you talk to 3 people, that is action. But what if they are 3 people who have already said no to you about becoming your client? What if you talk to 3 people but not about your business? You have taken action, but not clear and focused action in the direction of your outcome. Committed action also may mean you continue talking to people until you get the client you have declared you would have.
Take action every day. This is also an element of being committed. Keep going. Consistent action. Action that is focused toward the precise thing you want.
Magic!
“At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Intention is a decision. It is a decision about what you want followed by truly committing yourself to getting it. The magic is arises once you do that. Have you ever been late leaving and you got into some internal zone and you said, “I will be on time.” And, then all the lights “magically” turned green?
Or you decided to get new business and you took action to advertise and then the business came from somewhere else?!
Bonus: Say it like you mean it!
How will you know that you are operating from intention? Athletes know about intention. They say it with conviction. They don’t say, “We will try,” or “We will do our best.” They say, “We will win!” They put their butt on the line. They don’t hold back so that they won’t be embarrassed if they fail. They say it! Loud and proud. To anyone who will listen.
Conclusion
Once you get this, practice it! Start today. It is, as one of our recently graduated coaches says, “the secret sauce.” Once you learn it, do it! If you do not get the result right away, learn and change and go again. This too is commitment – do not give up if you do not succeed the first time. Or the second. Or the 212th.
clear outcome → take action → learn from your results → take new action → keep going
Commit. It is not over until you give up.
If you want to learn more about intention, I will be speaking at the ATD (Association for Talent Development) Professional Summit 2021: From Mayhem to Magic on April 14. Go here to learn more: ATD Sacramento – ATD Professional Summit 2021: From Mayhem to Magic Check it out! Not only will you be in a dynamic interactive conversation about intention, but there are other amazing and dynamic speakers. Particularly check out the keynote speaker. He is amazing! Devin Henderson – Keynote Speaker. Peak Performance.
If you are interested in learning more about the coaching skill set, join us on March 16, for our third in a series called Game Changer: How Coaching Can Help you to Level Up! This workshop is part of a monthly series on coaching skills for the non-coach. It will also introduce you to coaching itself – as a career path, as a way to manage more effectively in your organization and as a way to discover what you truly want in your life. Click here to learn more: Game Changer | McLaren Coaching – Capture Your Success
If you want to review our first three tips:
Tip #1 – Meet people where they are (Coaching as a Game Changer – McLaren Coaching)
Tip #2 – Approach people with openness (Coaching as a Game Changer – Tip #2 – McLaren Coaching – Capture Your Success)
Tip #3 – Know your own World View and to appreciate the World View of others. (Coaching as a Game Changer – Tip #3 – McLaren Coaching – Capture Your Success)
