What is the difference between a dream and a goal? A Plan.
When I think of dreams., I think of a wish or aspiration for something that seems and feels somehow abstract and far away from us. I dream of a happy and balanced life, I dream of being successful, I dream of world peace, I dream of a perfect job. If we let our mind and body dream, this is our Right Brain that is exploring freedom and possibility. Dreams can come with positive feelings, but sometimes bring us frustration or fear that they may never come true.
When a coachee can see a clear vision of their dream, their eyes open up, into a horizon, and then become quiet thinking, “Will I ever get there?” Well, the question is not “Will” but “How will I get there?”. A dream does not come to you, but you move and work towards it. The way to make a dream a reality is by setting up a plan with milestones and goals so we can see the journey ahead with clarity. Such is true, not only with a business plan or a corporate project but also with life.
As George Doran stated in 1981, goals have to be SMARRT: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Relevant, and Timed.
Although all these are important, I wanted to highlight two: Specific and Actionable.
If not specific, goals are difficult to plan for because a direction is not determined and therefore priorities. How can you determine the route if you don’t know the specific location where you are going? If you declare: “I want to achieve a balanced and happy life?” First, you have to define what “balanced” and “happy” mean to you. The clearer and more tangible, the better. Coaches help you become aware of what is it that you want, to then find ways to achieve that. For example, “balanced” could mean spending 1 hour a day exercising, reading every day for 20 minutes, or being able to have dinner with the family every night. Just to clarify, it must be defined by you or your team/family if it’s a common dream, not by the coach or society. Once this definition is clear, it is easier to design steps on each of the items that are required to reach that balance that you want to feel.
When we think of “Actionable;” we think of what we can act upon, but not always on what is under our control. In the same way, we cannot control nature and the economy, we cannot control people and chance. However, what we can control, is how we interact and react to people and uncertainty.
When we think of a goal, the thought comes with so many challenges that sometimes it feels impossible and overwhelming. Coaching can help differentiate these parts, understanding what can be done, and helping in having the right mindset to achieve those goals. There is always a doing and a being in every plan.
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