Coaching Tool: PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE

Whether or not you call yourself a coach, here is a swift and efficient way for you to get an overview of someone’s situation, and then quickly shift them to creating new solutions!

Once the person has shared their challenge with you, follow these three steps:

Step 1 - PAST

• Ask: “What have you already tried?”
• Ask: “What else have you already tried?” over and over again until they have no further answer to give.

Now you have a collection of everything that’s been tried in one place.

Step 2 – PRESENT

• Ask: “What are you currently doing?”
• Ask: “What else are you currently doing?” over and over again until they have no further answer to give.

Now you have a collection of everything that is currently being done in one place.

Step 3 – FUTURE

• Ask: “What have you not tried yet?”
• Ask: “What else have you not tried yet?” over and over again until they finally cannot think of anything else.

Now you have a collection of possible solutions in one place.

PAST – Some Context

Notice that asking what a person has already tried is much more effective (and comprehensive) than this very common (and dysfunctional) conversation cycle:

• “Have you tried A?” (They might answer: “Yeah, we tried that, and it didn’t work.”)
• “Have you tried B?” (They might answer: “We can’t do that because of XYZ.”)
• “Have you tried C?” (They might not have tried it or even thought of it, and be feeling rather stupid.)

Notice also that you could find clues in what the person has already tried that may contribute to solutions moving forward. Perhaps portions of what they tried did have a positive impact.

PRESENT – Some Context

Much of what is mentioned above regarding PAST is also true here. The person’s answers will give you an overview of what is going on at the present time. And, there may be further clues regarding what could be used moving forward.

FUTURE – Some Context

While the relating of PAST and PRESENT actions taken is basically a transfer of information from one person to another, it can be extremely useful to have collected all actions taken, in one place, providing an up-to-date overview for all.

The FUTURE step of this tool really turns the corner from information transfer to innovating and creating new solutions, some of which may have been considered but not tried, and others which may be completely new ideas!

Most importantly, it is crucial – especially in this step – to ask: “What else have you not tried?” over and over again. What you will notice is that the silence after your question and before they answer will get longer and longer. This is because the ideas they are generating are newer and newer. As such, they need quality silent thinking time. You can help to make this silence comfortable for them by saying, for example: “Take your time, I’m going to make some notes.”

In my opinion, you will not have made the most of this tool until you reach the moment where you’ve asked the question, “What else have you not tried?”, and the person finally admits that they have no further answer to give.

PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE – Final Comments

In order to not sound like a broken record, of course, you may want to vary the way you ask: “What else?” For example:

• "Can you tell me more?"
• "What other thoughts did you have?"
• "Any other ideas?"

Finally, you can adapt this tool, for the occasions when you and the person have more time together, by exploring some of the things that they’ve tried in the PAST and PRESENT. “How did that go?” “What worked, and what didn't?” Yet if you see this as a true brainstorm session, where you want to get every new idea possible on the table, be alert, and don't let yourself be pulled into a longer conversation about one or another answer that they are giving in any of the three areas: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.