THE TIMELINE EXERCISE - STEPS

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the TimeLine Exercise is to assist clients with the linear and sequential
planning of the steps leading toward a long-term goal. This is particularly useful for ‘in
time’ persons who have difficulty planning long-term and with objectivity. “The Timeline
Exericse is a Coaching Exercise that can be used for the “Create an Experience” section of
the Coaching Arrow and to answer the Planning Questions: “How might you get it?” and
“How might you commit to this?

THE PROCESS:

1. Once the contract and rapport are established and the project in question is identified,
begin by asking your client for the time frame of the project, including the completion
date. Draw a TimeLine and enter the start date on the left side and the completion date
on the right.

2. Invite your client to start with the end result in mind. Using an ‘as if’ time shift, invite
your client to imagine the project complete, and that they are very satisfied with the
result.

3. Then invite your client to get specific as to how they would measure the success of
the project. Ask: “What are you seeing, what are you saying to yourself, what
are you feeling?” and “How do you know that your project is successfully
completed and that you’ve achieved the desired results?”

4. Invite your client to work backward from the completion date, asking them to imagine
the series of action steps that led to completion, and then to list those steps. Ask:
“What was the last action you took just before you declared it complete? And
what action did you take before that?” Continue filling in a action steps, working
backward until you have the entire series, from beginning to completion.

5. Invite your client to pay particular attention to the first steps of the first weeks, with
the aim of having a clear action plan for the immediate future. You might ask: “Is
there anything else that you would have to do before taking that action?” and
“Do you have everything you need to take that action?” The aim is, within the
days following this session(i.e., between now and the next coaching session),to have
the client create a plan that includes useful contingencies.

6. Complete the session with the remaining Coaching Arrow elements by reiterating the
Action Steps, asking for the Value of the session and expressing Appreciation.

Additional Application:

Like the Balance Wheel, the TimeLine Exercise can be used for an initial orientation or
intake session. In this case, the time frame used is the length of the coaching relationship
and instead of action steps, you can ask for milestones. In other words, if the coaching
relationship is to last six months, you can ask what three goals would be met by the end
of six months (using an ‘as if’ time shift, per steps 2 and 3 above). Then invite your client
to decide on where he or she wants to be at the three-month mark. The TimeLine can then
also act as a tracking tool to measure progress.