Coaching exercises

Are you battling to find your way and unsure of where to go? Try these tools to develop your plans

MAP OF YOUR LIFE

Take a large sheet of paper and divide it into three sections. The left-hand side of the map represents the land you are living in now. The right-hand side of the map represents the land you’d like to live in. Between these two lands is a river that you have to cross.

Without thinking about it too hard, draw the land you are living in now. What is in it? Use symbols, drawings or words to describe your current landscape.

Move over to your ideal landscape – the place you’d like to be in. Fill this with words, symbols and images to represent all you’d like to have in your life.

Turn to the gap between the two lands. What is stopping you from getting from where you are to where you want to be? Use words, pictures and symbols to represent the obstacles you have to overcome.

Draw a bridge that will get you across the gap. What is it made up of and who is there to help you cross it?

When you’ve done your map, write down what your first three steps are going to be and when you’ll take them.

WRITE YOUR OWN JOB REFERENCE

Complete the following reference for yourself, with as much kindness as if you were writing a reference for a dear friend in whom you believe: Name

Greatest personal qualities

Greatest professional qualities

What words do others use to describe you?

You can have total confidence in yourself because… During the last two years, you have managed to…

FIND A FULFILLING FUTURE ROLE

Draw three large overlapping circles on a piece of paper. Use coloured pens and sticky notes to bring this exercise alive.

Write one of these questions in each circle:

What gives me meaning?

What gives me pleasure?

What are my strengths?

Put as many answers to these questions in each of the circles. You can keep coming back to the questions. It is interesting to see the things that overlap in all three areas. You may want to use these as a checklist for when you are considering applying for jobs or embarking on a career change.