Beyond Goals

What is there in developmental relationships beyond setting and striving to achieve goals? The presence of goals in coaching and mentoring programs has gone largely unquestioned, yet evidence is growing that the standard prescription of SMART, challenging goals is not always appropriate - and even potentially dangerous - in the context of a complex and rapidly changing world. Beyond Goals advances standard goal-setting theory by bringing together cutting-edge perspectives from leaders in coaching and mentoring. From psychology to neuroscience, from chaos theory to social network theory, the contributors offer diverse and compelling insights into both the advantages and limitations of goal pursuit. The result is a more nuanced understanding of goals, with the possibility for practitioners to bring greater impact and sophistication to their client engagements. The implications of this reassessment are substantial for all those practicing as coaches and mentors, or managing coaching or mentoring initiatives in organizations.

'We all know that goals are dreams with deadlines. We also know that setting goals enables us to turn the invisible into the visible. What's more, goals are the catalysts of change. If we set goals, and pursue these full heartedly, we are likely to arrive at remarkable places. Susan David, David Clutterbuck and David Megginson have been in pursuit of exactly the "remarkable" in their book Beyond Goals. Their contributions and the ones of their associates show us the road forward in making coaching and mentoring a highly successful endeavour. This book is a "must" for everyone interested in this rapidly expanding field of studies.' Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries, INSEAD, France 'We have needed this considered and careful exploration of the use of goals in coaching to challenge any number of blithe assumptions. The range of perspectives and the depth of coverage in this volume will encourage more reflective and effective engagement to help clients change what matters. I'm adding it to our "must-read" list for coaching supervisors.' Douglas Riddle, Global Director Coaching Services & Assessment Portfolio, Center for Creative Leadership, USA 'Beyond Goals is an educative, highly readable and compelling analysis of standard practices in goal setting for individuals and business. You are invited to challenge current thinking and traditional techniques for goal achievement and to engage with stimulating perspectives that have the potential to revolutionise the future of goal setting. An inspirational and invaluable resource for all those involved with mentoring and coaching.' Lise Lewis, International President of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) 'This book is a jewel of an examination of goals, their rich colors and facets visible here as nowhere else I have seen. Leaders in the coaching field highlight the complexity of goals and the many ways to help clients reach them - and reach beyond them. In a field that is sometimes simplistic and sometimes bewildering, this book stands out as valuable to both practice and theory building.' Jennifer Garvey Berger, author Changing on the Job: Developing Leaders for a Complex World and co-editor, Executive Coaching: Practices and Perspectives 'Before coaching, I spent over 20 years in corporate America and dreaded annual goal development and reviews exactly for the reasons described in this book. I thought I was an oddity, and now I find the old paradigm shifting. Goals can be meaningful, purposeful, and useful for individuals and organisations. This book provides excellent information on the history and evolution of goals and goal setting, and deep insight into how we as coaches, mentors, and managers can support our clients in practice.' Diane Brennan MBA, MCC, Past President International Coach Federation 'What a relief. Finally an academically sound and engrossing recognition that goals in coaching are simultaneously central and irrelevant. Demonstrating life's elegant non-linearity, the authors ask us to question current coaching lore and to build an up-to-date understanding of the real nature of goals in coaching and mentoring. A mind-opening feast.' Nancy Kline, Founding President, Time To Think '...a text of great interest and very courageous given that it questions a topic that is generally considered untouchable and definitive.' Andrea Castiello D'Antonio, ISPER reviewer, April 2015

Dr Susan David, a leading expert on coaching, is a founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital of Harvard Medical School, on the Harvard Faculty, and CEO of Evidence Based Psychology, a leadership development and management consultancy that advises global organizations. She frequently contributes to the online Harvard Business Review and is principal editor of the Oxford Handbook of Happiness. Professor David Clutterbuck is Visiting Professor at Oxford Brookes and Sheffield Hallam Universities and heads the UK Research Committee of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Clutterbuck has been listed amongst the most influential thinkers in Human Resources and top business coaches in the UK. David Megginson is Emeritus Professor at Sheffield Hallam University and founder of its Coaching and Mentoring Research Group. Megginson was Professor of Human Resource Development at the University. He has been co-chair of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Susan A. David, David Clutterbuck, David Megginson, Christina Congleton, Anthony M. Grant, Gordon B. Spence, Edward L. Deci, Elliot Berkman, Ruth Donde, David Rock. Siegfried Greif, Michael J. Cavanagh, Jim E.H. Bright, Robert G.L. Pryor, Richard E. Boyatzis, Anita Howard, Robert Kegan, Sir John Whitmore, Carol Kauffman, Kathy E. Kram, Laura Gail Lunsford, Maggie Clarke, Sarah Powell.

Without goals, how can developmental relationships succeed? Pick up almost any classical text on coaching and the importance of setting goals - clear, SMART, challenging goals - is emphasised throughout. And yet the evidence is growing that the neat cycle of 'set goal - plan how to achieve - implement plan' is at the very least seriously flawed and at worst highly dysfunctional. This challenging book overturns many of the basic assumptions about how goal setting works in developmental relationships. It draws upon recent research from several sources - including separate studies by the two editors - demonstrating that the more specific personal development goals are, the less they are likely to be achieved; and that the most effective strategy is to achieve both a broad sense of direction and high goal alignment. Traditional goal setting can easily become a crutch for poor coaching; or worse a straightjacket. The implications of this re-assessment of the role of goals are substantial for all those practising as coaches and mentors, or managing coaching or mentoring initiatives in organizations. The editors/ authors provide guidance and advice on how to work with and build on emergent goals.

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