Guided Design: A Powerful Tool for Training Professional Coaches

Phase Two-A: Two Months Later

Instructions: As in Phase One-A, please read the following addition to the case study of Susan and discuss in your guided design group.

The coaching is underway. Five one-hour sessions have been completed. Susan seems to be satisfied with the coaching sessions, but is definitely not satisfied with the task-force assignment. Susan has found this assignment to be very time-consuming. It is taking up virtually all of her time—not just the ½ time set aside by her boss and the Inter-Global Executive Team. She has to complete the second half of her job during the evening and on weekends. Her work/life balance is thrown off. She is ignoring her family and her own health. In addition, the task force meetings are often filled with conflict and poor communication. Task force members not only differ in terms their interpersonal styles, but also in terms of their cultural backgrounds (including differing values and perspectives, and differing command of English as the primary language being used during task-force meetings).

What should you do as Susan’s coach?