The Discipline of Seeing the Future: Coaching, Vision and Choice
As part of our learning around values and goals in my coaching training with Barefoot Coaching Ltd, we explored a practice called the Vision Chairs.
The idea is simple:
A chair for the future where you have made the change
A chair for the future where you haven’t
A chair for the present
Then you move between them and notice what shifts.
We didn’t necessarily use actual chairs. You can move physically, switch sides, or even represent each “future” with objects. The format matters less than the experience.
What matters is allowing yourself to step into each version and feel the difference.
Experiencing Coaching From Both Sides
During this session, I had the opportunity to both coach someone and be coached, while also being observed and receiving feedback from one of our tutors.
We had about 75 minutes to split between coaching, being coached, and reflecting together.
It created a space where you can see not only what you do, but also how you do it.
What I appreciated most was the balance between noticing what already works and gently identifying what could be explored further.
There was no pressure to “get it right.” Just an invitation to learn.
The Power of Saying Things Out Loud
When it was my turn to be coached, I noticed something simple but powerful.
Saying things out loud, while being fully listened to, helped me move out of my own head.
It made me realise the difference between:
What I say I want and what I am actually choosing by not acting on it.
Seeing both futures side by side made that gap very real.
What happens if nothing changes?
Sometimes, that question alone is enough to create movement.
Why Exploring Future Scenarios Matters
This experience made me reflect on how often, in our day-to-day work, we operate only from the present.
We plan.
We prioritise.
We react.
But we don’t always take the time to step into different possible futures and really consider their impact.
Exploring future scenarios, even briefly, can shift perspective in a way that planning alone cannot.
A Reflection for Leaders and Delivery Teams
For those working in leadership and delivery roles, this raises an interesting question:
How often do we create space to explore not just what could happen if things go well, but also what happens if nothing changes?
Because sometimes, clarity doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from seeing more clearly what is already in front of us.
