Guided Design: A Powerful Tool for Training Professional Coaches

Phase One-B: Comparative Analysis

Instructions: Compare your proposed actions with each of the four options briefly described below  (and those of other guided design teams, if there are any). Identify the strengths and weaknesses associated with each of the options described below (and with the actions generated by each of the other guided design teams if there are any). Also identify the specific strengths associated with your own proposed actions—in what ways are your own proposed actions as good as or perhaps better than any of the options listed below (or those generated by any other design teams). Discuss in your guided design group (and with other guided design teams).

Option One

Gather more information from Susan (and perhaps other members of the organization) regarding: (1) past planning initiatives (keys to success or failure of these initiatives), (2) the kind of background (and styles) needed among task-force members, and (3) the specific expectations of the most powerful/influential/ important members of Inter-Global’s Executive Team regarding this project.

Option Two

Help Susan gain greater clarity regarding: (1) the specific outcomes expected of this task-force assignment, (2) the ways in which these outcomes can/will be assessed, (3) what “failure” would look like, and (4) what “spectacular success” would look like.

Option Three

Help Susan generate ideas about: (1) how the potential task-force members will be chosen (who selects and what are the criteria), (2) what will motivate these potential task-force members to get involved in this project, and (3) what type of structure will be set up (and what technology will be needed) to facilitate the operations of this task force?

Option Four

Work with Susan in formulating a clear coaching contract in which: (1) expectations for the coach are identified, (2) confidentiality and other important coaching norms are established, and (3) ways in which the coaching will take place and the nature/style of the coaching relationships will be established.