Advanced GPS Goal Blueprint System: More Than a Template or Worksheet
Using the eight questions with artistry. See the video in the Life Strategies Coaching Course for a demonstration of how you can use the eight questions in a session and how it flows into interventions and processes. When you understand the GPS Goal Blueprint System structure, these questions can be woven into conversations and other formal and informal connections as well. When you tune into listening for the answers, you can capture the information your client will give you along the way,even before you ask. This creates the “dance” or flow that is the effectiveness of knowing your material and listening to your inner wisdom as you focus on the client.
Building a strong rapport with your client will help them reach their top goals more quickly.
How to Help Your Clients Successfully Reach Their Most Important Goals
Focused Template for the GPS Goal Blueprint System:
Generative Action Plan
Conditions of a Well-Formed Outcome
“What do you want?” (Desired state)
State in positive terms. What is wanted, rather than isn’t wanted.
Initiated and controlled by client.
Specific, sensory-based description of the outcome. What will the client see, hear, and feel and be doing when the client has their outcome?
Appropriate chunk size. A well-formed outcome is a manageable sized task, appropriate for the client to achieve.
Meta-outcome: “What will having this outcome do for you?” Verifies that the client will have multiple value from getting their outcome. Be sure this answer is at the Identity or Mission/ Spirit Level of the Hemispheric Levels of Experience Template.
“How will you know when you have it?” (Evidence Procedure)
a. Appropriate and Timely Feedback. Sensory-based evidence that the client has achieved the desired outcome.
“Where, when, and with whom do you want it?” (Context)
Who else is involved in your achieving your goal?
When do you want the results or completion of the goal? Be specific.
Describe the context, environment, location or situations.
Ecology. “How will your desired outcome affect other aspects of your life?” Evaluate the de sired outcome for possible negative or positive consequences to other people and other contexts.Is the clients’ choice of contexts ecological? Often, outcomes are ecological in one specific context and not another.How will having this result affect other people in the client’s life? How will this influence the client in other contexts of their life?
“What stops you from having your desired outcome already?”
Sensory-based description. Verifiable in current reality.
Listen for language that deletes, distorts, and generalizes reality: always, never, they…, everybody, I can’t…I have never done this before…should, etc.
“What resources (strategies, friends, accomplishments, experience, attitude) do you already have that will contribute to getting your outcome?” Sensory-based description or demonstration of evidence.
“What additional resources do you need to get your outcome?” Either something to be learned or increased practice from self or guidance and assistance from someone else.
“How are you going to get there?”
Does the client have more than one way to get there? “How else might you achieve your outcome?”Having at least three options inspires the brain to be generative.
What is the first step? When will you take that step?
“Chunking.” Identifying the first step and making sure it is achievable gives the client a roadmap to success that is in their control. Next, identify (chunking) other steps along the way. Part of the work you and your client will now do is to create the GPS Goal Blueprint – a series of step-by-step actions that lead to success. As any objections or concerns come up, these can be dealt with using your new techniques and other interventions.
Details for Successfully Eliciting a Well-formed Outcome:
“What do you want?” or “What do you want to be different?”
a. Be sure your client gives you an answer that forms a clear picture of what they do want. If they tell you what they don’t want, that is only 1⁄2 of the equation. In order for the full system to be able to move forward there has to be and a detailed image of the desired end results; a solid blueprint system.
Example:
Client: “I want to stop procrastinating.” (Stated in a “not”)
Coach: (Backtrack for clarity and pacing) “So, you want to stop procrastinating. Hmm, Ok. Well, when you stop procrastinating, I’m curious, what will you be doing instead?” (reframe to get the positive result wanted)
Client: “Well, I will be getting my reports out on time at work.”
“Getting reports out on time,” now becomes the “Outcome” to work with for the rest of the questions.
b. Make sure the end result or outcome is within the control of the client.
Example:
Client: “I want my spouse to stop bugging me about losing weight.”
Coach: (First, Backtrack) “So, you want your spouse to stop bugging you about releasing the weight you don’t need any longer, is that right?” (Slight reframing in the backtracking to begin to get some movement on the issue).
Client: “Yeah, he/she is always commenting on my eating habits.”
Coach: “I agree, that might be great if we could just tell your spouse to stop bugging you. Unfortunately, your spouse isn’t here today, so without his/her cooperation, you have no control to make that happen. What I can do is guide you to discovering how to influence the situation and be the kind of person who can set boundaries that are healthy and firm. And that skill might be of value for you in other situations as well, right?”
So let’s focus on what you are wanting for your life in regard to your health and weight.”
Make sure you get a factual or tangible description of the outcome that is sensory based.
Example:
Client: “I need to exercise more.”
Coach: “Ok, since you have decided you need to exercise more, what would that be like? Are you doing any exercise now? What kind of exercise would you be doing? How often do you want to exercise? What time of day will you plan to be exercising? Whose idea is it for you to exercise?
(Note: These are just some sample questions that will help get more specificity. Anytime we hear a comparative word like “more” or “better” it is an indication that the client is comparing to some standard or person).
c. Often the client will give a conceptual or “big picture” goal, which can be overwhelming or too “fluffy.” It is useful to “chunk” the goal down into manageable size pieces, so that the client does not get overwhelmed and give up before they begin. It helps to begin focusing on an immediate goal that will ultimately support the bigger picture.
Example:
Client: “I want more money – in fact, I want a million dollars!”
Coach: “So, you want a million dollars, great! When do you want that by?
Client: “Well, as soon as possible.”
Coach: “OK, let’s make a plan to get you on the road to having a million dollars. What do you think would be a good first step? Do you have an idea about how you want to get that million dollars?”
Estate. I see lots of people who make a lot of money in real estate.”
Coach: “Ok, so let’s explore in what way you could begin to invest in real estate that will get you started on your way to having a million dollars. Are you interested in getting your real estate license and selling houses, or maybe buying commercial or income property, or I heard about a process called ‘flipping’ that sounded interesting…what are your thoughts?” Giving a “menu” of options for the client to begin to generate their own ideas; kind of like priming the pump on a well.
d. The “meta-outcome” is the result or benefit the client perceives they will gain by having the outcome. This is the inspiration to motivate the client to continued action. It can give you more avenues to guide your client, especially if the original outcome is not something that is healthy for the client, in your opinion.
A Typical Example:
Coach: “What will being able to set healthy boundaries do for you? How do you think doing this will make your life better?”
Client: “Well, since I will talk with my boss about dumping a ton of paperwork on my desk on Friday afternoon expecting it to be done right away, and negotiate a better way for us to accomplish the work goal, I will feel lighter and safer to make my own plans for my life in the evenings.
Coach: And when you are able to negotiate this boundary and can make plans for your evenings… what will having that do for you ? What is the bigger benefit of that?
Client: This will let me relax more and enjoy my life. I’m free to be me!
2. “How will you know when you have it?”
Often the evidence is quite obvious as to when the goal is reached. Other times it is very important to get this result cleanly defined. One syndrome that happens to people who are never satisfied is that they never acknowledge the completion of a goal or task.
They do not have a specific, measurable result that they can take pride in accomplishing.
3. “Where, when and with whom do you want this?”
This question helps the client define the larger context of the goal, puts the goal in a time frame to make it more real, and checks for other people who are involved either in accomplishing the goal or being part of the result. Having this specificity supports making the goal feel more possible.
4. “What other aspects of your life will be affected by achieving this goal?” (Ecology Question)
The focus here is to have your client expand the frame and imagination into the future, “as if” having achieved the result already. Now notice any positive or negative effects accomplishing this goal may produce as a by-product.
“Will anyone else in your life be affected by your goal, and if so, how?” “How will you be perceived by others when you accomplish this goal?” “What do you have to give up to make the gain and what do you gain by giving up something in your current experience?”
This is the“ecology-check”question and can prevent regrets and mistakes by being aware of the larger influence the client’s desired change will have in their world.
5. “What stops you from having your goal?” (Present State or Challenge)
The response to this question becomes the focus for the coach to guide and assist the client. Here you will uncover hidden agendas, have an awareness of new skills that are needed, and elicit and update limiting beliefs that emotionally block the client from easily having what they want. It is here that the Hemispheric Integration Certified Life Strategies Coach has the advantage over being just a cheerleader, and trying to “fix” a problem. As a Spencer Institute Certified Life Strategies Coach, you are developing the tools to facilitate your client in “unhooking” emotional and mental limitations and clearing the way for developing new skills and freedom of thinking.
As your client describes a problem or what seems to be blocking them from attaining their goals – listen for blaming, excuses, whining or judgments against themselves or directed to others. These linguistic side-tracks or time-wasters will keep a person looping inside of the prison of the challenge because there is no proactive sense of taking responsibility for making the necessary changes for themselves.
As a coach, your first duty is to make sure the client fully understands that making a change is within their control, inside of themselves, and that when they make definitive decisions, set clear boundaries, and influence from a place of confidence, then they become the director of their life.
6. “What resources do you have already to achieve this goal?”
The value of this awareness is to help the client see that they already do have many skills and resources to support them in achieving what it is they are wanting. Sometimes, a strategy they are using in another context is the exact strategy that they need for this current challenge. By becoming aware of their own gifts and talents, it will contribute to their confidence and willingness to stretch into new accomplishments.
7. “What additional resources do you need to achieve this goal?”
Focusing on this aspect of the issue helps define where they may need to develop a new skill, make a clear decision, and/or seek assistance and guidance from other sources. It narrows the focus of what will have to be in place for them to achieve the goal by giving them more clarity. This clarity can help prevent or calm a feeling of overwhelm that comes from thinking that the goal is too huge and unmanageable. It also begins to contribute to making a plan of action steps.
8. “What is the first step in accomplishing your goal?”
This question is designed to get the client into action. Often it is inertia that has been keeping a person stuck. With this question, the client faces a realistic sense of how to reach the goal. Make sure this first step has a commitment as to when and where they will take action and accountability back to you as the coach for them to follow through.
One of the best ways we can serve our clients is to be the point person who will encourage them to be accountable for doing what they say they will for themselves, and if not, then you are there to help them “chunk it down” into an even more manageable size piece and to release any deeper concerns or worries.
Bridging the GAP
With the well-formed outcome questions answered you now have the information you need to begin to bridge the gap between where the client is and where they want to be with a Generative Action Plan (GAP). With this blueprint, map out a plan that will encompass each of the Hemispheric Levels of Experience for your client, so that change will be thorough, lasting and generative.
Accountability for the Client and Coaching Relationship
It is important that you create feedback loops between you and your client to measure progress along the way. Coaching is an interactive relationship based on mutual trust, with compassion, guidance and ample doses of humor and patience.
Often, as a CLSC you will need to first “un-hook” old anchors the client may have about learning, taking directions, authority figures, or being responsible that will interfere with progress. The last thing a coach wants to do is become a dictator, “parent” or policeman for the client! The coach’s job is to guide, encourage, challenge and teach skills for your client to find success in their own particular way.
Set up a program that has accountability and responsibility in equal measures. Give ample “learning opportunities” that are designed to move them in the direction of accomplishing the goal. You may have them journal their progress and report any successes and challenges. Give specific tasks for the client to begin to feel the benefit of their efforts and begin to enjoy success.
Congratulations! You have set the stage, developed the coaching relationship based on trust and respect, gathered valuable information, and created a viable plan of action. Now you are ready to begin the building!
Flexibility and respect are key components in having a powerful influence and healthy relationship with your clients.
Do you like this topic? You will want to investigate further by learning about professional career training as a Certified Life Strategies Coach.
