Your coachee doubts the value of goal setting in coaching. How can you convince them of its benefits?

I may upset a few here but I actually disagree with the question. A coaches job is not to convince the coachee of anything, so I wouldn't try to convince them of it's benefits. Instead I would explore their doubts and help them to work out what's right for them. As an aside, I coached someone a couple of years ago for whom the very mention of goals made her shut down. So we worked without them and still made progress. I'm an extremely goal focused individual, but not everyone is and we must be open and creative in how we serve others to truly serve.

In addition, having clear goals boosts coachee's motivation and morale by providing measurable milestones to celebrate along the way, making the journey more engaging and rewarding. Clarity also reduces stress and anxiety by eliminating uncertainty, allowing you to approach challenges with confidence and a sense of purpose.

In my personal experience (and also working with clients), when you don't have a goal to provide you a direction, anything that happens outside make you change your plans or the direction you were taking. This also happens when you have specific objectives. The difference is that, in this case, when you're done with managing what happened, you come back to your path towards your goal.

If your coachee doubts the value of goal setting, start by illustrating how it provides direction and purpose. Emphasize that setting specific, measurable goals creates a clear path and tangible milestones, which can significantly boost motivation and track progress. Share examples of successful individuals or case studies where goal setting led to measurable achievements. Highlight that goals help focus efforts, overcome obstacles, and celebrate small wins, ultimately transforming aspirations into actionable steps. By linking goals to personal values and long-term vision, you can demonstrate their critical role in achieving meaningful results.

It can be helpful to show them - possibly from their own personal experience - how goal setting and having a clear objective in mind can be beneficial. A very easy example is to use creative writing. - Ask them to invent a story, any story, anything that comes to mind, make it as broad and vague as possible, mention fantasy, sci-fi, romance, dark, horror etc... The client will likely not know what to say because there are too many options. -Then ask them to invent a story where a donkey meets a pumpkin, and the pumpkin is sad (Or whatever is more adapted to their character) They will usually come up with something on the spot. The lesson is that when they have. a sense of direction it's easier to take action.

Goals are more than just targets; they are catalysts for personal transformation. Intrinsic Motivation: Goals can tap into your deepest desires and aspirations. When you set goals aligned with your values and passions, the motivation to achieve them comes from within. This intrinsic drive is far more sustainable and fulfilling than external pressures. Sense of Purpose: Goals provide a clear direction and purpose. Knowing where you're headed gives life a sense of meaning and focus. This clarity can be immensely motivating, as it helps you prioritize actions and overcome distractions.

If your coachee doubts the value of goal setting, emphasize how clear goals provide direction and motivation. Explain that setting specific, measurable goals transforms abstract ambitions into actionable steps, making progress more tangible and achievable. By breaking down larger objectives into smaller milestones, they can track their success and stay focused. Highlight that goals also offer a way to measure growth, celebrate achievements, and adjust strategies as needed, ultimately leading to more meaningful and sustained progress.

Action: Use goals as tangible motivators. Emotion: Feel inspired by clear targets. Meaning: Goals turn desires into achievable steps. Tangible targets: How does defining clear goals convert abstract desires into actionable steps? Persistent drive: How does having specific goals fuel your motivation during challenging times? Milestone rewards: How does celebrating small victories keep you motivated towards your ultimate aims? Example: A client set monthly sales targets, feeling motivated by each milestone achieved, leading to a record-breaking year.

Again, goal setting only provides motivation if you are setting goals. If the client isn't setting goals, it would be important to map out what motivates them. It is always worth remembering, humans are goal seeking individual right down to our primal needs for sustenance and connection. So if the client is not setting goals, we need to establish how they evoke motivation. It might be they just see the process from the action stage and haven't noticed they do actually set a goal before the action stage, just implicitly.

Motivation Is A Nice To Have. Discipline Is A Must Have. Life Is Full Of Tasks/Chores We Don't Feel Like Doing, But, We Know They're Good For Us. Motivation Isn't Going To Help Us When We Are Not Wanting To Exercise. Discipline, On The Other Hand, Instructs Us To Do What Needs To Get Done *REGARDLESS* Of Our Feelings.

Start by explaining that goals give direction and focus, helping to prioritize what really matters. They also boost motivation and make it easier to track progress. Introduce the idea of having an accountability partner—a person who checks in regularly, supports them, and keeps them motivated. Share real-life examples of how accountability partners have made a difference for others. Start with a small, achievable goal to show how setting and reaching it can build confidence. Use regular check-ins to discuss progress and address any concerns. Personalize the process to their needs, making goal setting feel more relevant and less daunting. This way, they can experience firsthand how goals can lead to meaningful results and greater commitment.

Action: Commit to goals with your coach. Emotion: Feel supported and accountable. Meaning: Accountability boosts commitment and progress. Support system: How does having a coach as an accountability partner enhance goal achievement? Commitment boost: How does committing to goals with your coach increase your dedication? Progress tracking: How does regular check-ins with your coach keep you on track? Example: A client, with regular check-ins, consistently met their goals, driven by the accountability of their coaching partnership.

Los objetivos permiten generar múltiples pasos previos que permitirán su consecución. Los hábitos o metas trazadas pueden ser difíciles de mantener al principio y un accountability partner podría ser necesario o útil. Asumir una responsabilidad frente a otra persona genera un compromiso superior al que, en un comienzo, el cliente pueda mantener consigo mismo. Es para estos casos que la opción brinda un apoyo que puede marcar la diferencia.

You share a story from your own experience. "I once coached a client who felt just like you. They were skeptical about goal setting, seeing it as rigid and limiting. But we decided to give it a try. We set small, achievable goals at first. Within weeks, they started noticing changes. They felt more focused and motivated. Those small wins built their confidence, and soon, they were setting and achieving bigger goals they never thought possible."

Sometimes if a goal is a year or two into the future, it is necessary to have 'mini wins' along the way to maintain motivation and emphasise you are going along the right direction. I would question my coach to see if they do this. Success leaves a trail of patterns. Many successful set goals, even if its just in their head. I would like to see if my client is successful, what they do instead if they dont like goal setting.

The measure of success acts as a benchmark to evaluate progress and effectiveness. It provides tangible indicators that help determine whether you're on track or need to adjust your approach. For instance, if your goal is to improve public speaking skills, a measurable success could be the number of speaking engagements completed or the positive feedback received from the audience. Without these metrics, it's like playing a game of darts blindfolded—sure, you might hit the board, but you'll never know how close you are to the bullseye! Measuring success not only keeps you accountable but also motivates you by showing clear progress. It's the difference between saying,"I want to get fit," and saying, "I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes."

Immediate Steps: Show how setting smaller, immediate goals can combat procrastination by breaking down tasks into manageable steps. Action-Oriented: Encourage a proactive approach to tackling tasks, making it easier to start and maintain momentum.

Digital Timers Are One Of Life's Greatest & Most Underutilized Tools. When You Don't Feel Like Doing XXXX, Grab Your Timer And Set It For 20 Minutes. Then Put The Timer Upside Down, And Get To Work. Psychologically, Having A Hard End Time Makes The Process Of Completing The Unwanted Task MUCH Easier.

Work Backwards. Where Do They Want To See Themselves In 6, 12 Months? What Feelings Do They Want To Experience? How Is Their Live Different In The Future Than It Is Right Now?

Big Picture: Help the coachee see how short-term goals align with their long-term vision, creating a roadmap for their career or personal growth. Sustainable Growth: Explain how setting and achieving goals leads to sustainable growth and development over time.

Remember a goal isn't a strategy. Its not tactics on how they are getting to the outcome. For a long term vision it must include a goal, strategy and tactics. If they doubt the value of goal setting, they might be going straight to tactics (go to the gym more). To make a long term vision more solid, a goal of some kind is needed. I would ask my client what their approach is.

Los objetivos valiosos son aquellos de largo plazo. Tenerlos ayuda a construir y cumplir los de corto plazo. Pensar en la vida que quiere, permite a nuestro coachee hacer los avances y ajustes necesarios para que su vida le otorgo un mayor sentido de satisfacción. Aquellos anhelos que quiere conseguir en el futuro sirven para impulsar su presente y crecer en lo que haga falta.