The Importance of Structure

Coaching is a very organised, structured interaction. If not, then it's just a conversation. The same goes for a sales meeting, a consultation with a doctor, a training course or any other professional interaction. Without structure, it's a conversation.

Here's an example of why structure is important. What is missing from this diagram?

The answer is of course the same thing that is missing when you go to the supermarket without a shopping list, and when you get home, you realise that the one thing you forgot to buy was the one thing that you actually went in there for.

What happens if we look at the same components in a different way?

Let's put those components into a structure:

Now what's missing?

And that is why structure is important.

Structure isn't a constraint - that's probably a script that you're thinking of.

Structure is an enabler for the outcome, a guide to help you to achieve the outcome for the interaction.

You do have an outcome, don't you?