How to Coach Yourself and Others Empowering Coaching And Crisis Interventions | Page 100
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simple checklists of potential goals, customized to the common needs and problems of particular client groups.
However, these goals should always be concrete, measurable, challenging but realistic, and “owned” by the
client.
Effective Goals Are Concrete One defining feature of a counselling relationship is its goal-directed nature. But
some clients begin counselling with vague and undefined goals:
■ “I want to feel better.”
■ “My husband and I need to get along better.”
■ “I need to make something of my life.”
These goals are starting points, but they are useless until they are described as clear and concrete targets.
Beginning phase work that explores problems and feelings should lead to the development of goals that define
and structure subsequent work. Then in the action phase clients can develop these goals as specific and
measurable targets. This step is a prerequisite for action planning—the development of strategies and programs
to achieve goals. Vague goals result in vague and ill-defined action plans, whereas explicit goals lead to precise
action plans.
Concreteness is the remedy for vagueness. Concreteness can add precision to unclear and ambiguous goals. For
example, when clients are describing their goals, counsellors can use simple encouragers, such as “Tell me
more” and “Yes, go on” to get a general overview of what clients hope to achieve. This is the first step in
shaping workable goals. The next step is to use questions to identify goals, define terms, probe for detail, and
develop examples. This step helps to cast the emerging goals in precise language and move from good
intentions and broad aims to specific goals (Egan, 1998).
Listed below are some examples of probes and directives that might be used to start the process:
What is your goal?
When you say you’d like to feel better, what exactly do you mean?
Describe how your life would be different if you were able to reach your goal. Try to be as detailed as
possible.
If your problem were to be solved, what would need to be different in your life?
What do you think would be the best resolution to your problem?
What are some examples of what you would like to achieve?
As a result of counselling, what feelings do you want to increase or decrease?
What do you want to be able to do that you can’t do now?
If I could watch you being successful, what would I see?
Some clients are reluctant or unable to identify goals, and they may respond with a dead-end statement such as
“I don’t know” when they are asked for their goals. To break this impasse, counsellors can use 6