When someone tells me they want to achieve a goal, we work together to understand their underlying motivations and determine the best course of action.
I then help them appreciate that while coaching will increase their social accountability, there’s only so much I can say to someone to sustain their motivation.
But there is a lot of power in being accountable to yourself.
So before embarking on any major change together, I ask what message they need to hear from themself if they don’t do what they say they will do.
This usually causes a great deal of self-reflection, and produces the fundamental message they know will really hit home. I then file away this message to draw upon if their actions don’t align with their intent.
You don’t need a coach to realise the benefits of this exercise.
Simply reflect on what you need to tell yourself at the start of your journey, and capture it for those moments when you justify inaction.
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