Brainstorm your options, then commit to action

20/09/07 18:45 Filed in: GROW process | Options
You have identified your goal. You’ve thought about what’s currently going on regarding the goal. Now you want to take action to achieve your goal. Good.

Before identifying and committing to the specific actions you’ll take, brainstorm your options. Brainstorming options can help you:
  • Identify effective options. For example, if you want to balance your checkbook, you could do it by hand, in a spreadsheet, and in Quicken. You could do it daily, weekly, or monthly. Which option(s) would be most effective for you?
  • Identify appealing options. For example, if you want to run, you could run on a treadmill, around a track, along the road, and in a park. You could run by yourself, with someone, and with a running club. Which option(s) do you find most appealing?
When brainstorming, do 4 things:
  1. Reflect: What can you do? What else could you do?
  2. Think: Think inside the box. Think outside the box. Think of multiple options.
  3. Remember: There’s usually a better way. You can find it.
  4. Get in a good context: I do my best brainstorming when I’m working with someone—like a coach. What’s a good context for you?
After you have brainstormed options for taking action to achieve your goal, review your options and then commit to the actions you’ll take.