How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Página 382

Supportive text messages can double the chance of someone successfully
quitting smoking, according to a study published in The Lancet Over 10%
of smokers who received encouraging texts such as "you can do it" had
quit after six months, but only 4.9% who did not have the same support
gave up. Dr Caroline Free, who led the trial said: "Text messages are a
very convenient way for smokers to receive support to quit. People
described txt2stop as being like having a friend encouraging them or an
angel on their shoulder." Similar text messages could be used to help
people modify other behaviour.
(From the excellent Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by
Professor Robert Cialdini )

Visualisation techniques can help prepare neural pathways in the brain
for when the task is performed for real. However research has found that
visualising just the outcome decreases chance of success so you need to
imagine the steps along the way as well. Oettingen and Mayer found that
students who reported fantasizing about success made fewer job
applications, received less job offers and had smaller salaries. So you
need to realistically assess problems that could be encountered as well.
EXAMPLE COMPLETED ACTION PLAN
MY OBJECTIVE IS: To choose my future career!
TO ACHIEVE THIS I NEED TO:
List the steps you need to take. Be detailed and
specific (not ‘‘I'll contact some employers’’, but
‘‘Find email addresses of 5 local employers
who have marketing departments & contact
them"

Date I
expect to
complete
this step
by

My reward
for
completing
this step
will be

I will tell my plan to: my three best friends, my
parents!
I will start my action plan on (date):

3rd March

Step 1. I will use the Prospects Planner
Some nice
computer guidance system to help me to 4th March
chocolate!
identify jobs of interest
Step 2. I will use the "What can I do with my 6th March More
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nice