It’s that time of year again — time for your Coaching Input meeting. It’s your opportunity to reflect on your accomplishments over the course of the year and share them with your manager. If only you could remember what you did!
This is usually the moment your mind goes blank. Or maybe it wanders back to your email inbox or other convenient distractions. And with everything you have to juggle, it’s no wonder your accomplishments have gotten lost in the sea of memory. It can be the most frustrating part of getting through your Catalytic Coaching cycle.
Never fear — I’ve got some powerful tips and tricks for removing this stress and preparing for your coaching input meeting.
1) Use a coaching journal
At the click of your mouse, you can capture those moments in a quick reminder that’s stored in your Catalytic Coaching online account. No one else can view it, so you can feel comfortable recording anything that catches your attention.
2) Send yourself a note
Something really cool just happened and you’re nowhere near a computer. Shoot yourself a text or email with as much detail as you can muster. But if you have a Catalytic Coaching online account, you can sign in with your phone. The software is responsive and accessible anywhere you have a Network connection. So, now journal is right at your fingertips.
3) Get dedicated
Set a recurring reminder and make it a habit to compile your notes and document achievements. Give yourself 10 or 15 minutes at least once a month for this reflective activity. It’s a small amount of time that will save you a headache in the long run.
4) Be picky … but not too picky
You don’t have to document every little thing or use every example when it comes time to fill in your Coaching Input sheet. The quality of the accomplishment and how it fits with your narrative is more important than having tons of examples. And don’t let yourself get tripped up on finding the perfect wording either. You can fill in extra information after you discuss with your Coach manager.
5) Let’s do the time warp
So, these are some helpful tips for the coming year. But what if you’re stuck on what you accomplished in the last 12 months? Even if you made a note, sometimes there’s some little detail you wish you’d remembered to jot down. Maybe there was some specific customer feedback you need to bring up or a particularly challenging collaboration that was well navigated. Take a moment to search through your email, direct messaging, calendar entries, or CRM. You might be surprised how many “Oh, yeah!” moments you’ll have.
With a little prep work, navigating the Coaching Input meeting will get easier and you’ll find Catalytic Coaching to be the perfect outlet for your professional development.
Garold (Gary) Markle is the creator of Catalytic Coaching and author of Catalytic Coaching: The End of the Performance Review. He brings real world experience from 17 years in HR leadership, over 23 years in Senior Leadership, and over 20 years of teaching organizations how to cultivate their leadership and ditch their detrimental performance reviews for a proven Coaching process.
Book Gary to speak to your audience about Energizing and Engaging the Human Spirit at Work.
Connect with him on LinkedIn - Check out his videos on YouTube - Sign up for emails or Request information
