Coaching Exercise Part 1: REVIEW & CELEBRATE YOU with these 9 Coaching Questions!


As coaches, we're good at setting goals, but we're not always so good at reviewing and celebrating - especially when it comes to our own achievements and growth!

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Taking the time to review and celebrate our successes gives us the opportunity to really absorb how we've grown, and also to recognize and solidify the changes we've made in our lives. It's also important to ask ourselves deeper questions like, "What did I learn about myself?" and "What challenges did I overcome?" in addition to the usual focus on tangible achievements.

This Annual Exercise is Part 1 - "Review and Celebrate", while Part 2 is "Previewing and Preparing". The questions and reflections in this exercise help you ground yourself and consider what's important before setting goals for the coming year.

TIP: This exercise is, of course, fabulous to do with your clients too - and can also be done at the beginning of a goal-setting workshop!

NOTE: This article is based on our "Set Your Compass" Tool where you take stock and review your previous year's successes and learnings, and prepare for the coming year!

Annual Goals Preparation PART 1: Review & Celebrate Last Year!

Start by setting aside 30-45 minutes, and find somewhere you can relax and sink into these questions. Perhaps you're snug in a local coffee shop with your favorite latte, in front of the fire at home or in the bath with a herbal tea or glass of wine. Then answer these nine coaching questions to review and celebrate how the year went for you and your coaching business.

Important: Do your best to identify the full five items for each question - and answer them intuitively from the heart. This isn't about what "looks good" to others, instead think about what YOU are proud of - no matter how small or unimportant it might seem to others.

STEP 1) Here are the 9 Coaching Questions to Celebrate & Review Your Year:

1. Name Your Proudest 5 Achievements this Year

This could be something big, small or anywhere in between. What are you most proud of?

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

2. List 5 Challenges You Overcame this Year

What was hard? What are you proud of overcoming, dealing or getting to grips with?

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

3. What Did You Learn about Running a Coaching Business?

Think about skills, knowledge, techniques, useful facts, lessons learned etc.

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

4. What Did You Learn about Yourself?

These could include (but are not limited to!) your strengths, weaknesses, talents, positive or limiting beliefs, desires, values, hopes, fears, etc.

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

5. What New or Existing Relationships Did You Develop?

Who did you grow your relationship with? This could be personal or in business.

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

6. What Did You Create or Bring into the World this Year?

Think broadly - it could be anything at all that has your unique stamp on it!

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

7. How Specifically Did You Make a Difference in the World this Year?

Big or small, how did you help others/your community/the world? It could be in your family, wider community, friends, colleagues - even strangers!

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

8. Where Did I Have the Most Fun?

What did you enjoy most in your business this year? Take a moment to really feel into this question.

  1. _______________________
  2. _______________________
  3. _______________________
  4. _______________________
  5. _______________________

9. If You Were to Write a Newspaper Headline that Summarized the Year for You and Your Coaching Business, What Would it Say?

_______________________________________

STEP 2) Review And Take A Moment To Absorb Your Achievements

Now it's time to review your responses and absorb how it feels. Consider:

  • How do you feel as you look over your lists? What are the highlights?
  • What themes and patterns do you notice?
  • If there was one thing that stood out, what are you most proud of this year? Circle it!

Now, it's time for the part we usually skip over...

  • You've answered and reviewed the questions, now take a deep breath and really feel and celebrate all that you already are - and are becoming. Enjoy what you feel and absorb it. Stay here for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, two minutes.
  • Relax and stay a while longer - proud of yourself, your achievements, what you learned and how you grew. Recognize yourself. See who you are and what you achieved this year!
  • What are you saying to yourself right now that you would like to remember and hold onto?

STEP 3) Celebrate

  • To wrap up this exercise, consider what reward or treat would remind you that you worked hard, learned and grew as a person.
  • What could you do that would anchor the feeling of gratitude and pride in yourself and all you achieved? Examples could include taking the day off to do something creative, buying a print, painting, scarf, tie or jewelry you admire. It could also be something small and symbolic eg. a small lion carving, an eagle fridge magnet, a chunk of amethyst, a special keyring etc.
    TIP: It's good if it's something beautiful you will see often. This isn't about materialism, but rewarding and celebrating you. Choose something that creates an anchor to remind you of this year, something special that recognizes all your efforts.

Now, if you haven't already, all you have to do is commit to your reward or treat. It's important and symbolic. Remember that you're worth it!

Get your own "Set Your Compass" Tool here:

This fun form takes you through these questions to review your year's successes and learnings, and also has a second part that prepares you by looking ahead to the coming year!

Or get 10 awesome tools in our Vision & Goal-Setting Toolkit:

Includes the Seasonal Set Your Compass Tool, Make Your Goals SMART, Annual Goal-Setting Workbook, Understand the Why of Your Goals & many more!

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Contributing Author:

Emma-Louise Elsey has been coaching since 2003 and is the Founder of The Coaching Tools Company and Fierce Kindness.com. She's passionate about coaching and personal development. Originally a project and relationship manager for Fortune 500 companies she combined her love of coaching, creativity and systems to create over 100 brandable coaching tools, forms and exercises including 30+ completely free coaching tools. She now serves coaches and the coaching world through her exclusive newsletter for coaches, Coaches Helping Coaches Facebook Group and many other great tools for coaches, plus resources and ideas for your coaching toolbox. The Coaching Tools Company is an official ICF Business Solutions Partner.

Learn more about Emma-Louise & see all their articles here >>

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