Goal Definition

Just like with problems, it’s important for goals to have a clear picture and to know exactly which goal you’re moving toward.

A goal that is “well-formed” in the sense of NLP is:

Tips for Eliciting a Goal

The “as-if frame” is generally helpful:
“Suppose you had already solved this problem (however that happened) — what would that be like?”
“Just act as if you had already achieved your goal of ‘no longer doing X’ (= the problem). What would that be like now? What is different, better — how do you feel?”

1. positively phrased
   
   The final goal definition should contain no negations or comparisons:
   
   
   • How will you notice that you have reached your goal of no longer doing X (= the problem behavior)?
   • What do you want to achieve for yourself instead of the problem?
   • What have you achieved / what are you doing when you no longer do X (= negative phrasing)?
   • What exactly do you wish for / want?
   • What will you have that you didn’t have before?
2. specified
   
   Achieving a goal should be verifiable. Therefore, it’s important to know where and when (= context) and exactly what you will notice internally (sensory) to know you’ve arrived at your desired goal.
   
   a) sensory-specific (VAKOG):
   
   
   • How will you know / what will you notice that shows you’ve reached your goal?
   • If the feedback loop is too long: what will you notice even earlier?
   • Assume you’ve already reached your goal: what do you see, hear, feel, smell, taste? Which posture typically goes with it? Take it on now.
   • How could I recognize that you’ve reached your goal?
   b) contextualized (place, time, people)
   
   
   • When do you want to have achieved it?
   • Where do you want it?
   • With whom do you want it?
   • When, where, and with whom do you not want it?
3. self-attainable
   
   A set goal should a) be achievable through your own actions and b) be the right size: not too big (hard to reach), not too small (not motivating). It’s also c) good to know which resources you might still need for implementation.
   
   a) achievable through your own actions
   
   
   • Can you reach it yourself?
   • Is it within your possibilities to put this goal into reality?
   • What will you do to get it?
   b) right size
   
   Does your goal have the right size?
   If it’s too big:
   
   
   • What keeps you from reaching your goal?
   • Transform the obstacles into smaller goals.
   • Maybe it’s more sensible to tackle a smaller goal first?
   c) make resources accessible for achieving the goal
   
   
   • What else do you need to achieve it?
   • How can you get what you need to reach your goal (resources)?
   • Which personal abilities, options, and sources of strength can you draw on to achieve your goal?
   • What could be a first step toward your goal?
4. ecological
   
   
   
   A goal we truly want to implement aligns with our values, relationships, and other projects. To check this wider background, ask questions that help uncover possible negative effects or incongruences related to the goal:
   
   
   • What will happen if you get what you want?
   • What will happen if you don’t get it?
   • If it were already here now, would you accept it?
   • What’s the worst that could happen if you achieve your goal?
   • What are the possible risks?
   • What impact will fulfilling your wish have on other areas of life and relationships?
   • What will you give up?
   • What are the pros and cons?
   • Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?
   • Is your goal in alignment with your values and your self-concept?
   • Is achieving this goal in alignment with your other plans?
   If serious objections surface here, reformulate the goal according to the new information. (Sometimes the goal becomes unimportant and the problem is no longer that big...)
   If only minor objections show up, ask: “What options and abilities do you have to deal with this difficulty, and what else might you need?”
5. motivating
   
   A goal should be truly attractive. If this isn’t clear enough yet, ask about the goal “behind” the goal (= meta-goal):
   
   
   • What’s important to you about this goal?
   • What’s the best thing about it?
   • What has this fulfilled for you?
   • What is now ensured after you’ve achieved this goal?
   • In what way does achieving this goal move you forward?

Read an article on our coaching blog: How can I support people in finding their goals?.

Optimally Defined Goal

An optimally defined goal also includes a corresponding resource physiology, sometimes called “goal physiology.” This lets you verify whether the goal is truly desirable (= motivating).

If you haven’t elicited this yet, then—even if all the points above seem fulfilled—the goal definition isn’t complete; something essential is still missing.

I: Precise Problem Definition

VAKOG Trance

II. Separator State

III. Precise Goal Definition

VAKOG Trance

IV: Brief Reframings

V: Ecology Check