Your client is stuck on unchanging goals. How do you guide them towards adaptability?
When a client is fixated on static goals, it's crucial to guide them towards adaptable thinking. Here's how you can help them embrace flexibility:
How do you help clients stay flexible? Share your thoughts.
Your client is stuck on unchanging goals. How do you guide them towards adaptability?
When a client is fixated on static goals, it's crucial to guide them towards adaptable thinking. Here's how you can help them embrace flexibility:
How do you help clients stay flexible? Share your thoughts.
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In my experience, one of the most powerful moments comes when a client recognizes that holding onto a goal isn't always the right move. I once worked with a client who was pouring time and resources into a business idea that just wasn’t viable—a true ‘lemon.’ After some tough but honest conversations, they realized their energy was better spent pivoting to a more promising venture. Letting go wasn’t failure; it was clarity. That decision led to a business that thrived, proving that sometimes, cutting losses is the first step toward real success.
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People change when they are ready. When I was coming to terms my husband was ill and would not recover, I was unreachable. My life coach had wonderful things to say and wonderful advice. I wanted to be stuck and angry. My dad actually helped me more by being stuck and angry with me then my life coach had done in that moment. It is challenging to watch people stay stuck and just let them be. Letting them be and finding the moments to guide them when they are willing to move is the challenge.
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My first step would be to explore whether these goals are truly aligned with the real change they need—or if they’re just distractions masking deeper challenges (perceived as difficult to approach). So I would start from the simple question „How would your life change once you reached your goal?” to slowly explore deeper what they need. E.g: „The goal to take a side project to earn extra money” may lead to the idea behind that „If I have extra money my worries regarding the future would calm down and I could spend time playing with my kids” – so I see a need for connection with the children that is deeper and It’s blocked by fear. I would address this fear to see how the main goal changes.
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The power of questions and questioning can never be underestimated. In this particular scenario, I would use an accumulation of information we've created together to establish the success (or lack thereof) of the existing goals, determine how they are working (or not), then work towards co-creating goals that are commensurate with where the client is at and where is the most appropriate place to go tomorrow. If the client insists on sticking with the existing / original goals, then new execution and measurement criteria would need to be established to give them the opportunity of experiencing progress and success in the future. Awareness is key.
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Getting people to stand back and see the big picture is not easy...personally I have found breathwork to slow down can be a great place to focus on the present and here and now...from there and a state of openness it can be possible to then look forward and embrace the future...leading to the "how do i get there ?"...
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To guide a client stuck on unchanging goals, start by understanding their resistance. Ask thoughtful questions to uncover fears or external pressures, creating a safe space for them to share. Assess if the goals align with their current values or circumstances, and reframe flexibility as a strength rather than a failure. Encourage small experiments by suggesting incremental changes to their goals, breaking them into manageable steps. Introduce tools like scenario planning to explore multiple paths and highlight adaptability as an opportunity for growth.
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Overcoming the comfort of a static goal is multifaceted. 1) Understand the "Why" with open-ended exploratory questions. Has something changed since the goal was set? 2) Use the insights to break the goals into milestones. More often than not long-term goals can feel redundant. 3) Cognitive reframing: Challenge irrational beliefs, fears, and threats to encourage a growth mindset 4) Identify stressors and regulate the nervous system: A triggered, stressed mind can be a host to procrastination, lack of focus, and consistency. Make the process enjoyable. A relaxed nervous system makes it easier to Zoom out and have a flexible perspective, & be more open to change. 5) Metrics to track what's working & what isn't both tangible and intangible.
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A long-term or long-held static goal, may not be helping a client to move forward. It may seem unattainable or it may be that things have shifted for the client, but they feel an unease with voicing this. As a coach, I'd be asking all sorts of questions around change and see what came from that. Getting deeper insights as to what are the important parts of this big goal would give greater clarity to whether things need to be revised. If a client continues to be 'stuck' - perhaps we are not asking the right questions.
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If a client is stuck on unchanging goals, guide them towards adaptability by fostering understanding and collaboration. Start by exploring why they are attached to these goals, showing empathy and ensuring they feel heard. Then, introduce adaptability as a strength, framing it as a way to enhance their success rather than compromise it. Work with them to evaluate their goals in the context of current realities, identifying areas where adjustments could open up new opportunities. By encouraging them to view adaptability as an empowering strategy, you can help them embrace change without feeling pressured.
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When a client is stuck on unchanging goals, encourage adaptability by facilitating a collaborative review of their objectives in the context of evolving market trends, customer needs, and internal challenges. Use frameworks like Future Backward or Scenario Planning to help them envision potential disruptions and opportunities. Introduce iterative methodologies like Agile, emphasizing experimentation and feedback loops. Encourage small, low-risk pilot projects to test new ideas. Highlight success stories of companies that thrived through adaptation. Most importantly, foster a mindset shift by aligning adaptability with their core values and long-term vision, demonstrating how flexibility can ensure sustainable success.
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