Developing Others Through Coaching Training: Segment 5

Offering Perspective & Setting SMART Goals

Key Moments & Quotations

• “One of the most difficult things for coaches to get is when do I offer my perspective, how much do I offer?” – Trainer
• Appropriate moments to speak into the conversation:
  • when the coachee has listed several options and is stuck
  • when I carry relevant experience the other person lacks
  • when I can supply a useful tool or resource
  • when I have observed the person in action and can give targeted feedback
  • when the person explicitly asks for my point of view
• How to offer perspective well:
  • “First ask for permission to offer your point of view.” – Trainer
  • “Offer your thoughts in small doses and be specific.” – Trainer
  • “Be intentional not to diminish the other person’s buy-in.” – Trainer
  • Golden Rule: “If you leave the conversation thinking, ‘Whew, I got it all off my chest,’ you probably said too much.”
• Setting SMART goals (Jerry):
  • S – Specific
  • M – Measurable
  • A – Attainable
  • R – Relevant
  • T – Time-bound
  • “When you end the conversation, the person should know exactly what they’ll do, why they’ll do it, and when it will be done.”

Practical Next Steps

• Hold back perspective until the other person has generated several ideas and momentum stalls.
• Ask, “May I share a bit of perspective?” before speaking.
• Keep input brief, concrete, and tied to the person’s stated goal.
• After sharing, return ownership: “What would you do from here?”
• Guide the person to craft SMART goals—defining the specific action, measurement, attainability, relevance, and deadline.