Coaching at the "Triage" Time of the Term

Students who attend institutions that follow a semester schedule are in the last week or two of classes, and for many, the worries are piling up. In addition to preparation for exams, final projects, and final papers, students who have unfinished and late assignments to do may find those tasks weighing heavily on them. With the addition of other types of overload -- social media, information about upsetting world events, family and financial pressures -- it's easy to see how many students don't know where to begin to handle it all.

In a coaching session with a student whose head is spinning and feels inclined to shut down, a coach can introduce the idea of triage -- in other words, prioritizing the most immediately necessary actions first, and then gradually chipping away at the rest. Many students may first need to accept that at this point in the term, they may simply not have time to do everything they want to do, and do it well. Once they see the possibility of choices beyond the ideal, they may be more open to setting up a triage plan.

Coaches can ask questions like these:

• What is your list of responsibilities for finishing up your coursework? For studying for exams?

• On this list, which are MUST-DOs, and which are important but not as essential?

• How might you open your mind to a successful finish that looks different from what you originally planned?

• What course has your biggest opportunity for a win -- and what are the key tasks that can get you there?

• Which course needs your attention the most -- and what key actions can help you pass?

• What might you take off your plate this week without heavy consequences?

• What expectation for this semester would it help you to let go of in this moment?

LifeBound classes teach valuable coaching skills to support & empower students: