What do you do if your clients are struggling to set realistic goals and avoid burnout?

"No, think smaller." This is something I regularly say to clients when we get started with coaching. People often embark on coaching with energy and gusto and want to swan dive in! It's invigorating, but not how we create sustained lasting change. We need to break down your goals into realistic, manageable steps that you're actually going to incorporate into your work and life. Questions I often ask to make sure the actions are small enough; "Are you actually going to do that?" "If it's so easy for you to make this change, what has stopped you until now?" "what difference is this going to make to you in the short and long term?" "What are you willing to have be different or let go of to create space for this new way of being?"

Implement the "Success Mapping" technique: After assessing your clients' current status, use the mapping technique to visualize their professional path. This tool helps to clearly identify successes, resources, and obstacles, making future goals tangible. Visualization aids in setting goals that are both realistic and inspiring, crucial for sustainable growth and avoiding burnout. This approach turns analysis into a motivating action plan.

Reviewing the results objectively is a good place to start. If you are not achieving most of the goals you set for yourself, it’s important to pause and reflect if you’ve been setting a goal that’s unrealistic. Be honest about your capacity and draw up your priorities.

The first thing I say to myself when I find myself with a coachee in such a situation is "Ouuf ! he or she has a coach!", which makes well-being the sine qua non for successfully tackling the biggest challenges. One of the keys to success in today's professional world is to understand that well-being is not a luxury but a necessity, especially when burnout can strike at any time, and most often without even realizing it.

If your clients are struggling to set realistic goals and avoid burnout, guide them to break down their larger objectives into smaller, achievable tasks. Encourage them to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to ensure clarity and attainability. Teach them to prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency, and to recognize the value of saying no to overcommitment. Advise them on the importance of regular breaks and self-care practices to prevent burnout. Finally, help them establish a routine that includes time for relaxation and hobbies, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Implement the "S.M.A.R.T. Plus" technique: Break down larger goals into manageable tasks, applying Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound criteria, with an added "Plus" for flexibility in adjustments. This allows clients to see tangible progress and keep motivation high, avoiding overload. By prioritizing tasks and focusing on one step at a time, they create a clear roadmap, celebrating each milestone achieved and adjusting strategy as necessary.

Playing a crucial role in the well-being of your coachees means encouraging them to take a step back to better anticipate and make choices that leave room for flexibility because in this field everything can change overnight. It's the multiplication of unforeseen events that leads to stress and anxiety. Learning to integrate them opens the way to realistic, step-by-step possibilities, before returning to more ambitious goals.

When you are clear of your priorities, time management becomes easy. Start with listing down your priorities and cultivate skills to say no to things that are not important. If you’re unclear of your priorities, you’ll never have enough time.

Integrate the "Pomodoro Technique": Teach your clients to manage their time using 25-minute focused work intervals, followed by short breaks. This method boosts concentration and reduces fatigue, effectively balancing work, rest, and personal activities. Time becomes an ally, not an obstacle, facilitating goal achievement with less stress and promoting sustainable growth.

Promote "Daily Energy Balancing": Emphasize the importance of self-care by encouraging clients to allocate time each day for exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest. This practice helps maintain high levels of energy and focus, crucial for long-term success and burnout prevention. By incorporating self-care into their daily routine, clients can preserve their overall well-being.

Implement the "Recalibration Rule": Remind your clients that flexibility is crucial in goal pursuit. Teach them to review and adjust their goals and strategies in light of unforeseen changes. This adaptability fosters a more balanced approach to career development, acknowledging that setbacks are part of the journey and that sometimes stepping back is the best way to move forward.

I don’t think burnout is due to setting unrealistic goals but rather a consequence of working at a workplace that didn’t align with one’s values. In other word if our contribution is not to something we prioritise we feel unaligned with our principles and eventually burn out.

????♀? In such cases, what I prefer to do is start by making them do a relaxation exercise. ?Then ask them deep questions, get them connected to their inner desires and dreams. ??And then do reverse engineering. ?? That way they are able to set vision for their life and their current goals where the vision is the North Star ? for them ??