| What is the real value of setting goals? | | | | 5 concerts with my own material". At the time |
| I believe 100% in the power of setting goals to | | | | she set this goal, she hadn't performed any |
| bring about the results you want to achieve in | | | | concerts with her own material. Between the time |
| your life. My beliefs have been reinforced by | | | | she set this goal and our next meeting, two |
| seeing goals materialise in my clients' lives, my | | | | weeks later, she left the country to be with her |
| family's life as well as in my own life. The beauty | | | | sister, who had just had a baby. She wasn't |
| of setting goals is that you are never too old or | | | | putting any time into getting her concerts. Yet in |
| too young to start the process and benefit from | | | | the meantime, the goal was working for her. "Out |
| the outcome. | | | | of the blue" she received two invitations to |
| Whilst I do use coaching within my own family | | | | perform concerts with her own material. |
| with caution, I have a couple of stories from my | | | | Sometimes I work with clients who have a gap in |
| own family which are constant reminders to me | | | | a certain area of their lives, but are resistant to |
| of the power of goal setting. My left handed, 11 | | | | setting a goal in that area. Often they are in the |
| year old, son who had struggled with hand writing | | | | place where they don't want to take action on |
| speed through out his schooling, set a goal to | | | | something, in case they don't get what they |
| "More than double my hand writing speed". With | | | | want. This can be in situations where they have |
| the goal very firmly in mind, he automatically | | | | tried many things without success. I have |
| became motivated to take a "d-i-y" hand writing | | | | encouraged them to set a goal, with the explicit |
| programme. He worked on the programme | | | | instruction that they take no action. |
| himself with little in the way of reminders from | | | | One of my clients had tendonitis for many years |
| me. His handwriting speed accelerated, and the | | | | which was impacting on her ability to play and |
| goal was achieved. | | | | coach tennis. She was resistant to setting a goal |
| For 67 years, or as long as she could use a | | | | around healing her tendonitis - she had tried many |
| crayon, my son's grandmother, my mother | | | | things and didn't want to do more. I encourage |
| enjoyed art as a hobby. She had reached a point | | | | her to set a goal and requested that she take no |
| where she wasn't getting very much from her | | | | action. Some months into our coaching relationship, |
| art. I took her through a goal setting session | | | | she chose to use some new processes, including |
| around her art and she established what she | | | | visualisation. Her tendonitis healed and she went on |
| wanted to do: Become an Become an Artist of | | | | to launch a tennis initiative for under priviledged |
| Excellence. She herself realised she was not | | | | children: Taking them off the streets and coaching |
| spending enough time on her art, and became | | | | them in tennis. |
| highly motivated and highly focused. At the age of | | | | What makes a powerful goal? |
| 68, she applied and was accepted to do a BA | | | | Like making a cake, there are several ingredients. |
| Hons Degreee Course, and has since won prizes | | | | With a cake, I would say flour is most essential, |
| for her art. In both cases, it was literally the | | | | and with goal setting, it is inspiration that, for me, |
| setting of their own goals which led to these | | | | is most essential. I take great trouble with my |
| outcomes. | | | | clients to ensure that together we define a goal |
| Goals can be used in the moment to dramatically | | | | that scores top marks for inspiration. A goal to |
| change the outcome. Today I was playing a one | | | | loose weight became "Look fabulous in my black |
| set tennis match. I wasn't playing well, and found | | | | PVC catsuit" for a female client and "Lean, mean, |
| myself down 5-2 and 40 love down. Unexpectedly | | | | well oiled machine" for a male client. |
| I became inspired by the idea of winning from | | | | Given that we are working in a coaching alliance, it |
| such a place. "Winning from 5-2, and 40 love | | | | is when I am as inspired by a goal as my client is, |
| down" became the goal of the moment, which | | | | that the magic really starts to fly. |
| really excited me. I shared my goal with my | | | | For the second most important ingredient, I rate |
| opponent. My game changed beyond recognition.. I | | | | succinctness. A really powerful goal can also |
| became very focused, and determined whilst at | | | | double up as a mantra. It is easy to repeat as |
| the same time very relaxed. I started to enjoy | | | | often as possible and it is easy to remember. |
| the match. Instead of loosing many games to | | | | Finding a new job can become "Love what I do" |
| love, I was winning games to love. I finally went | | | | and recovering from a difficult patch can become |
| on to win 7-6. | | | | "Sparky, witty Jonny is back"!. |
| Jon Covey tells his readers to "start with the end | | | | I also rate challenging as an important ingredient- |
| in mind" - and when we set a goal we are doing | | | | alongside inspiration. Getting the level of challenge |
| just that. | | | | right is key to the success of the goal. Some |
| What is the purpose of setting goals? | | | | clients are truly inspired by challenge - particular if |
| So many people go through their lives like | | | | challenge is amongst their core values. Whereas |
| rudder-less ships - without clear direction, and are | | | | for others, too much challenge can be |
| literally subject to storms and winds in the sea of | | | | counterproductive. A goal that is too challenging |
| life. Lack of direction can often lead to feelings of | | | | can defer a client from taking action. If a client is |
| stress and anxiety, poor concentration levels, lack | | | | determined to stay in the "this will never happen |
| of confidence, and living life from a place of being | | | | place" then some adjustments are needed: either |
| reactive rather than proactive. Not only that, but | | | | to their perspective or to the goal. I come from |
| people without goals often have little | | | | the place where everything thing is possible - and |
| determination, patience or tenacity. | | | | encourage my clients to move into that place. |
| When you set and achieve a goal, you have an | | | | Technology has shown us that things that weren't |
| opportunity to pat yourself on the back. Even if | | | | possible in the past are now today, and most |
| you don't achieve exactly what you set out to | | | | people have had experiences where they weren't |
| do, there are likely to be numerous achievements | | | | initially able to do something, have thought that |
| and learnings along the way that you can | | | | they never would and have since learnt. |
| acknowledge yourself for. All this helps build self | | | | A challenging goal doesn't necessarily make it |
| esteem. | | | | difficult to achieve. An example from my own life. |
| For those who are serious about sport, who are | | | | I am naturally someone with an extremely busy |
| running a business or have a senior role within a | | | | mind. In the past, left to its own devices, my |
| company, setting goals is an essential ingredient to | | | | mind would mull over both concerns and projects |
| success. In spite of this not everyone does it. It | | | | for hours on end - during the day and often at |
| may take a conversation with a coach, or | | | | night too. It was draining. I wanted to be able to |
| business advisor to get them thinking along these | | | | turn my mind off - whilst still retaining my innate |
| lines. | | | | ability to be creative. This led to a goal which was |
| Setting goals is not just for sport or work, | | | | hugely inspiring for me "Be the Zen Master of my |
| everyone can benefit from a well-worded goal. | | | | on/off switch". The goal started to take on an |
| Whether you seek a new partner, a better | | | | energy of its own. Coincidentally, I signed up for a |
| relationship with your existing one, a new job, a | | | | spiritual training - which encouraged meditation |
| new house, more energy, more abundance, | | | | daily. Meditation was something I had practiced for |
| improved health, a stress-free life, or something | | | | a number of years in the past. I had stopped |
| else, the right goal for you, can make all the | | | | simply because I wasn't at that time getting |
| difference. | | | | results with it. |
| How do you set goals? | | | | This time things were different. Almost from the |
| Setting goals is a very easy process to do at its | | | | moment I started to meditate again, I found that |
| simplest level. I spend quite some time designing | | | | my mind became quiet. I was the "Zen master of |
| personalized goals with my clients. I find that it is | | | | my on/off switch". A hugely challenging goal was |
| most effective for people to focus on the top | | | | achieved with the minimum of effort. |
| areas of their lives - perhaps their business (if | | | | Classical goal setting will encourage you to go for |
| that is appropriate) as well as one or two other | | | | something realistic within a specific time frame. If |
| areas. Choosing the top areas is an important part | | | | making a goal realistic means that some of the |
| of the process. I find clients are most motivated | | | | inspiration is lost - then go for the inspiration is |
| if they are working on the areas of their lives | | | | what I say. I recently started with a client at the |
| which are going to make the greatest difference | | | | stage of transition from full time employment to |
| to them. It is important to bear in mind too, that | | | | running his own business. The goal that truly |
| what may be important today, but not be so key | | | | inspires him is "Respected in my outstanding £5 |
| in a few months time. If you find yourself | | | | million business". From a standing start, this goal |
| neglecting an area that you have designated top, | | | | could be considered to be unrealistic within the 6 |
| one reason may be that it is not now so | | | | months of our initial contract. So he has has a |
| important. If you find this happening, a great tip is | | | | signpost goal around his business plan being |
| to check in with yourself by asking your self how | | | | written and approved by the bank. This gives him |
| important it is to have this thing. Answer with a | | | | a short term focus, whilst the longer term goal is |
| score out of 10 - where 10 is very important and | | | | the one that truly excites, inspires and motivates |
| 0 is not important. | | | | him. |
| There is a balance to be achieved between | | | | In most cases, it makes sense to frame goals in |
| working on all areas that need attention - and just | | | | the positive. That said, there are times when a |
| working on one area. Focusing on multiple areas | | | | goal which appears to be expressed in the |
| can be distracting leading to little being achieved. | | | | negative, is more motivating to a client than the |
| Focusing on one area alone, also has its | | | | other way round. I have had a number of clients |
| downsides. Not only can it impact negatively on | | | | who came to me with health challenges. One had |
| your work/life balance, but an over-focus can lead | | | | pain from a hernia and had used drugs to control |
| to what I call "attachment to the outcome". | | | | the symptoms for 7 years. Prior to our setting a |
| You may have experienced a situation where you | | | | goal, she found that no drugs meant intolerable |
| wanted something so much that it became crucial | | | | pain levels. She could have set a positive goal such |
| that you had that "thing" in your life. It could be | | | | as "100% healthy" but instead chose "Pain and |
| the promotion, the new job, the new house, or | | | | Drug Free" for her goal. These were the words |
| the new partner. When you find yourself attached | | | | that did it for her. Within one session, she had |
| to a particular result, you may find that it often | | | | given up her drugs this time without pain - and |
| gets in the way of your ideal result coming about. | | | | has maintained her drug and pain free state ever |
| One way of "letting go" of your attachment is to | | | | since. |
| spread your focus by having one or two other | | | | Classical goal setting will encourage you to go for |
| key goals. | | | | goals that are measurable. I would 100% agree |
| Once you have your top two or three areas, the | | | | with that. Not only is a measure motivational, but |
| next step is to set a goal that is going to really | | | | both yourself and your coach will know how close |
| inspire you in each of these areas. Defining an | | | | or how far you are from achieving the goal, at |
| inspiring goal is a challenging exercise to do alone. | | | | any point in time. With business and sports goals, |
| A coach who is experienced in working with | | | | it is fairly easy to incorporate a measure. A desire |
| clients to define really inspiring goals can really help | | | | to grow and sustain a business became "My |
| with this process. One of my clients, a Managing | | | | sustainable £30K per month Business Building |
| Director of a Design Agency, wanted to work on | | | | Business" for one of my clients. |
| his business. He wanted to realize its potential, | | | | Which brings me to what happens if you don't |
| become more financially successful, move | | | | achieve the goal that you originally set. This may |
| forward, and be busy. This led to a goal which | | | | be because you changed your mind. What you |
| was really inspiring for him "My business buzzes to | | | | set out to achieve initially, no longer holds the |
| the tune of £50K profit per month". This was | | | | same interest for you. For the more spiritually |
| particularly challenging goal because the business | | | | minded, it can be useful to include a caveat - to |
| had made a loss for over 9 months. Five months | | | | your goal setting, particularly when you find |
| into the coaching and the business is on an | | | | yourself hugely attached to the outcome. This |
| upward trend - last month profits were just | | | | can take the form of a simple sentence which |
| under £50K - and we still have a month to go | | | | can be added to a goal e.g. "Achieve my goal....or |
| with the coaching. | | | | whatever the grand design has in store for me". |
| A goal that is hugely inspiring for a client has an | | | | Often, it is only a matter of time until the goal |
| energy of its own. I equate it to what happens | | | | you set becomes yours. There is likely to be |
| when a surfer rides a powerful wave. Once on | | | | many learning and achievements on your path |
| the big wave, all a surfer needs to do is focus | | | | from the moment you set your goals. I |
| and balance and he will be carried to the shore - | | | | recommend that you keep a note of your |
| without the need to do much more. (Of course, if | | | | learnings and achievements- since, in my |
| he wants to reach the road from the shore, he | | | | experience, human beings are particularly good at |
| will need to take some action). | | | | forgetting, as well as dismissing their |
| One of my clients is a singer. Her long term goal | | | | achievements. However valuable goals setting is, |
| is "My first record deal published". Whilst it is | | | | and whatever the outcome, I find it empowering |
| hugely inspiring for her, she wanted a goal for the | | | | to remember that "Life is a journey, not a |
| short term. In her case it is to "Perform at least | | | | destination". (Who was it that said that?! |