#148 Goal focus in coaching: awareness and alignment
Why Coaches Fail
This is the tenth in a series of 12 posts about why coaches fail. Being a great coach is about getting the balance just right between not enough and too much, the so-called Goldilocks Effect.
Coaches might underplay or overplay certain behaviours and derail the chances of successfully helping their clients reach their goals. Great coaches manage to strike a balance between these extremes and get it just right.
Today, I’ll explore goal focus in coaching, show why goal awareness and alignment is so important for effective coaching, and how to get the balance right for yourself.
Goal focus in coaching: awareness and alignment
Goal focus is vital in coaching, but when misaligned, it can narrow or scatter the client’s journey. Some coaches become fixated on the Big goal: the promotion, the life change, the transformation. Their sessions revolve around progress toward this singular outcome. But in doing so, they may overlook smaller, more immediate concerns: emotional blocks, relational tensions or habits that quietly sabotage progress. The coaching feels purposeful, but not always personal.
At the other extreme, some coaches lose sight of the Big goal entirely. They become absorbed in the minutiae, exploring tangents, resolving day-to-day dilemmas or chasing insights that don’t align with the client’s broader aspirations. While these moments may feel rich, they risk becoming disconnected. The client may enjoy the conversation, but struggles to see how it moves them forward.
The balance lies in goal awareness and alignment, like a skilled football manager guiding their team. The manager doesn’t just obsess over the final league position; they focus on creating and finishing chances in every match. They know that winning the league depends on consistent attention to both the big strategic picture and the small, tactical plays. Similarly, a coach who balances their client’s Big goals with the smaller, session-by-session breakthroughs helps build momentum. They track progress, adjust tactics, and celebrate each win, whether strategic or subtle. The coaching becomes a season-long campaign, not just a one-off performance.
Three tips to balance Big and small goals:
1. Revisit the Big goal often: use it as a compass, not a constraint. Ask, ‘How does today’s focus align with your broader aim?’
2. Validate the small stuff: don’t dismiss the details; explore how they shape or reflect the bigger journey.
3. Contract for flexibility: let clients know it’s okay to shift focus, as long as the purpose remains clear.
Coaching isn’t just about lifting the trophy; it’s about playing every match with purpose. And when goals are held with awareness and alignment, every pass, tackle and finish move the client closer to their season’s ambition.
Visit https://www.growthecoach.com/free-resources to download an at-a-glance summary of all the coaching derailers.
