Overarching goals are the goals that you determine at the beginning of the coaching partnership. The overarching goals will guide the topics of each subsequent session. 

A session topic is the topic (related to your overarching goal) that is discussed in a single coaching session.

Examples make it easier to understand.

Example 1:

  1. Over-arching goal: I want more work-life balance.
  2. Session topics (1 topic per coaching session)
    1. I want to figure out how I can be more efficient so that I don’t have to catch up on evenings and week-ends.
    2. I want to increase the quality of the time I spend with my partner.
    3. I want to figure out which professional commitments are important to me and which I should let go of.
    4. I want to find an activity that brings me joy and fulfillment.

Example 2

  1. Over-arching goal: I want to work on my professional development plan
  2. Session topics (1 topic per coaching session)
      1. I want to express myself more confidently in meetings.
      2. I want to organize my CPD so that it reflects my professional goals.
      3. I want to ensure that my professional goals don’t lead to burnout.
      4. I want to adjust my leadership style.