GOAL SETTING TO TURN ASPIRATION INTO ACTION

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

Goal setting is a hugely important part of life coaching. This is where we turn aspirations into action, creating a practical – and at times ambitious – plan to step-by-step realise your desired outcome.

The practice of goal setting, however, is nuanced. A good coach understands that for goal setting to be a powerful tool, the goals must be practical and achievable whilst stretching their client just the right amount. In this blog, we’re going to share what goes into great goal setting and what you can expect from your coach.

1) CLARITY

First thing’s first, we need to know where we’re going and how you and your coach are going to work together to get there. You have taken the step of engaging a life coach, so you probably have a vision of where you want to go. At this stage, you and your coach will set clear expectations on the parameters of your vision, and the specific outcomes you are working towards. Detail at this point is good; quantifiable benchmarks can be helpful e.g. I want to grow my customer base by x number of people in the next six months.

Clarity is also crucial when it comes to your relationship with your coach. Clear communication in a psychologically safe environment will give you the ability to work through any challenges or concerns together. It also means you can advocate for yourself and know that your coach is actively listening to offer the best guidance possible.

2) PRACTICALITY

Goal setting is all about achieving real outcomes, so a plan of action must be grounded in ‘do-ability’. These are three important things you and your coach need to do to keep your goal setting grounded:

a) Keep track with clear benchmarking: with quantifiable goals or stages, you can objectively keep a handle on your progress. The tangibility of such goal setting means you can celebrate success or course correct your strategy where necessary.

b) Keep it real with your timeline: this is where clarity is really important. Be open about your capacity to achieve certain outcomes with your coach – the goal isn’t to achieve growth in record time, it is about making real progress towards your vision.

c) Feedback is a good thing: an important part of good communication is being able to listen and take in feedback. Your coach is here for you, and their feedback is designed to help you. You can expect feedback to be specific, constructive, and kind.

3) EMPOWERMENT

Getting it done is a good feeling, and although working towards your goals might be hard work at times, we hope you feel empowered by your agency and progress (and remember, progress can be found in the little things!). Your coach is there to not only help organise your goal setting, but to enhance key skills for growth. Take a moment to reflect; to look back and celebrate your wins along the way, to consider your new skills, and to recognise your strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Goal setting can seem like a daunting task – how can someone break down their dreams into a step-by-step plan!? Just remember: be clear, be practical, and feel empowered.

A strong relationship with your coach will help you keep an eye on your vision while taking practical steps on a day-to-day level. They’ll offer you the objective feedback and support you need to persevere and track your progress with you through the measurable goals you set together. And remember, no matter how windy the path, working towards your goals is always a good thing so take time to celebrate the small wins and take heart to overcome the challenges – it’s worth it!

Ready to improve your growth? Get in touch with Zohara at

info@zoharalifecoach.co.uk to find out more.