As a project consultant, my focus is on working with my clients on concrete action steps rather than hypothetical situations or vague waffle hidden in ‘big picture’ talk.
That’s not to say that all coaching sessions are fluffy (because it’s usually hard work dealing with internal baggage, tbh) – but my approach is distinctly action-oriented, aimed at solving problems and moving your project forward.
Although most of my client consultations take place via email for maximum flexibility, you can also schedule a 60-minute voice call with me to work on a specific roadblock in your project.
Here’s what a typical voice consulting session with me looks like.
1. We start with a brain dump
Before diving into the work, I give you the opportunity to tell me how things have been going since our last meeting and to get things off your chest. This initial brain dump is crucial for setting the tone and clearing your mind.
Sometimes, this might look like a bit of a rant, while other times it can be a stream of consciousness where you release everything you’ve been tussling with in your head.
If you’re having a one-off session, this time is for you to give me a brief overview of your project and the problem you’d like us to work on.
The goal here is to give you a safe space (usually around 5-10 minutes) to empty your metaphorical cup, so we can make room for new insights and creativity. During this time, I will usually jot down a few key points to make sure we can recall something later if needed.
2. We revisit your goals
Once your cup is empty, we move on to a refresher of your action session goal.
Before we meet, I will have asked you to tell me what you want to work on in advance. So, I’ll usually reconfirm if that’s still what you want to talk about, and we’ll briefly discuss how we’re going to address the problem.
I’ll also ask you what your ideal outcome for the session looks like, setting a benchmark to check against at the end of our time together.
3. We work on a specific problem
Now it’s time to get to work. This is the fun part where we look at the issue from different angles and come up with ways to approach it using a combination of my expertise and your lived experience.
Depending on your project goals, this could involve tasks like investigating supplier or tool options, mapping out a job profile and requirements for a new hire, updating your systems in real-time, or anything else connected to your project goal.
The main bulk of the action here will take at least 45 minutes. We’ll usually share screens at this point and will work directly in your project plan to make sure it’s available for you to refer to later.
4. We create action steps and set deadlines for our next meeting
During the last 5-10 minutes of the session, we’ll check our task progress and measure it against the ideal outcome you set at the start. Based on how far we’ve got, we’ll create several follow-up steps for you (or your virtual assistant) to continue working on after the session until our next meeting.
As these steps will depend on the next phase of your project, as well as your capacity and availability, we’ll plan them with care to make sure they’re achievable in the timeframe set – they should always make sense in the context of your overall project and be manageable.
If you’re using one of my packages that involves regular email conversations, then these action steps will also form the basis of your weekly accountability check-ins. I’ll follow up with you close to their deadlines to see where we need to focus or if we need to revise the project plan.
So there you have it! A typical action session with me is all about getting things done and making actual progress on your project. Whether you’re after ongoing support or a one-off productivity boost, these action sessions are all about getting you concrete results.
Want to get your project started off on the right foot? Book a free call and let’s talk about how I can help.
