How do you help clients improve continuously?

I agree and while seeking great goals is a key to meaningful action, it’s important to ensure that there’s sufficient discovery work at the start so that the goals are meaningful. Some key questions to ask are - What will achieving this goal mean for me? - What does it look like, feel like, sound like? - How will I know when I’ve achieved this goal?

Clients benefit from having their objectives, or steps toward their goals, broken down into small, feasible tasks. Each of those tasks deserves a reward of some kind, like an attagirl or an attaboy that's written down. Because the mind sees in pictures, something as simple as a spreadsheet with gold stars added for each completion can maintain the dopamine flow. This approach combats the feelings of frustration and overwhelm that can result from looking at the figurative mountain one has to scale to reach the ultimate goal.

I'm a coach that incorporates Individual Learning Plans (ILP) & SMART goals into each coaching engagement, and I've found that while the document is useful to reference, clients and I notice greater impact in the reflection and forward-thinking behaviors required to create a solid one. Without challenging ourselves to consider additional information, SMART goals are at best, a performative deliverable rather than an impactful, perspective-shifting tool.

Perfectionism is a double edged sword that can support or distract clients from achieving their goals. As much as we want to have great quality work, speech, timing, and setting...we also get distracted by the detail and our focus shifts away from our main objective. With my clients, this is a focus that we keep a tab on because it's very easy to get caught up and park consistency away. So do your best and apply the pareto principle 80/20.

In my business coaching, I create a self-reflective environment, prioritizing continuous improvement. Unlike my consulting projects, I don't set immediate goals; I encourage clients to explore thoughts and values for personalized strategies. Before SMART goals, I guide a self-reflective phase, deepening understanding for sustainable improvement. My coaching empowers clients to refine approaches, with SMART goals emerging from evolving self-awareness. As a facilitator, I guide a self-discovery journey, emphasizing active roles for continuous improvement and ownership. Coaching centers on unique insights, aligning with meaningful growth. Emphasizing self-reflection sets the stage for a concise, meaningful journey.

In my experience, the feedback must be as immediate as is possible and ideally based on factual evidence. Also, the coach must own the feedback and explain the rationale for why they think the way they think. As a final point, while being honest, feedback must always be encouraging so not to be critical and demotivating.

We used to have a 'story board' where we placed our thoughts and encouraged each other. Then in group sessions, we would discuss, hear from each other and be encouraged knowing that everyone faces ups and downs and knowing that support is not very far away even if it may just be an encouraging voice.

It seems to me that feedback without trust is usually perceived as criticism. Therefore, it may be more beneficial to focus on building the relationship and expressing your intentions prior to giving feedback. As coaches, we make observations and identify patterns but to make the positive impact we want it to make, trust is the prerequisite for sharing our findings.

Certainly, offering consistent feedback and support is a pivotal aspect of facilitating clients' ongoing growth. Constructive feedback aids in identifying strengths and areas for development, while unwavering support fosters motivation and perseverance. Employ techniques like impactful questioning, empathetic listening, validation of emotions, balanced praise, and resourceful suggestions to enhance your role as a valuable life coach.

In my experience, one key tool for reflection is journaling. Ideally, journalling must be adopted as regular practice, such as daily or weekly. Sometimes, triggers may also call for impromptu journaling.

My clients also love tracking logs that brings awareness to their triggers, emotions and behaviors. It enhances self-awareness, empowers intentional behavior change, and helps clients bridge the gap between their current state and the impact they want to create.

Through the work that I do as a Journal Therapist, I can encourage, empower and invite clients to express themselves in a way that allows them to show up as they are. Journaling is an intentional and meaningful way to have an honest dialogue with Self. Through self-reflective invitations clients can explore versions of themselves that they may not have encountered, neglected or retreated from. By spending time on the page to reflect and reframe their mindset, my clients can go beyond the surface level and delve deeper into their sense of Self. Some prompts may be; ? What lies are you telling yourself? ? How do you define yourself in this season? ? What do you need more/less of in your life? Spend 10 mins reflecting on each invitation.

One of the key things I encourage are writing and productive games. Mostly my clients and I spend time playing chess or Cashflow. Not only are they great motivators, they also teach vital life lessons. Writing is invaluable to personal growth and generally my clients are encouraged to have a pen and a book close by at all times and to include dates in their writing. It has become a powerful tool over the years.

One of my favorite ways to expedite growth is to create journal prompts and reflection questions in a shared doc with the client. They spend time in between sessions answering questions and taking notes, then before each session, I check the notes and begin dialogue from this new level of shared knowledge. It helps clients continue momentum by keeping what's important to them at top of mind, and provides an opportunity to reflect in private and work through what they want to share with me. Not all insights must to be shared and I love offering this privacy to clients while also benefitting their coaching process.

Thinking of leadership or personal development as “playing with” rather than “working on” is much more fun and motivating. I Encourage clients to take small, manageable steps outside of their comfort zones. These "micro-experiments" can gradually build confidence and resilience by creating new neural pathways and evidence in the brain. For example, if a client wants to improve their public speaking skills, suggest that they start by speaking up in smaller group settings before attempting larger audiences. Another way to experiment is to allocate a specific time on their calendar to do something that shows mastery. Even a small task for 10 minutes can provide an opportunity to play, experiment, and make learning feel fun and progressive.

Some clients progress through their goals, careers and lives by learning along the way. But that can also be a way to avoid the big changes they crave. Being in stuck in your comfort zone can become a roadblock for personal growth, so encouraging clients to explore other ways of looking at their situation, brainstorming different approaches, doing research, encouraging them to talk to others who have succeeded in their area of interest can pique their interest in pushing themselves and trying something new. Coaches can provide a push by challenging clients to commit to action and be accountable for their own follow through. Sharing the outcomes and experiences with the coach can deepen the client's learning and growth.

Experiment, test, question and play all the time. Just because somebody has passed on a skill or information to you, doesn't mean that it can't be made better to work for you exactly the way that you need it to. Even if you learned it from The Big Guru - you can always improve and adapt to your own needs. Listen to yourself and your inner voice to know there's a creative genius inside conspiring to pop out and create something miraculous the world has never seen before. Don't stifle this genius - let him thrive and play and you will be rewarded with nourishment, financial success and a deep sense of fulfillment.

We learn everyday. When I first started out Life Coaching, one of the goals I set for myself was to constantly learn something and be part of activities that teach something new. Today as I share that, I draw on so many experiences that Clients are glad to learn from. I always encourage them to share with me their own experiences from applying our techniques and the new lessons are intriguing, most especially knowing someone has something new to share from them.

Fostering reflection and self-awareness is fundamental in guiding clients toward continuous enhancement. These skills facilitate profound self-understanding, perspective shifts, and experiential learning. Promote self-evaluation, habit recognition, and alignment with values through established coaching models like GROW or the Wheel of Life. Additionally, incorporate journaling, meditation, and thoughtful questioning to empower clients in exploring their inner world and driving their personal evolution.

Using the "range not change" approach can help clients develop a growth mindset and skills without feeling the pressure to change their natural tendencies or comfort zone. This approach allows clients to identify when certain traits or skills are useful and when they may hinder progress. It enables effective skill development by utilizing a diverse set of abilities based on the situation. For example, negotiation may require different approaches depending on the situation. One may need to be collaborative and empathetic to achieve win-win outcomes or assertive to stand one's ground. Seeing the range in skills helps remove the belief of "this is who I am" and "I do not fit the mold." Instead, it promotes growth with flow and ease.

I help working people plan their transition to life after work (potentially another 30 years or so). A growth mindset is of course vital for progress in one's working life. I alert such people to the fact that a growth mindset becomes just as important in life after work. Not necessarily working. Simply a need to (parodying Steve Jobs) "stay hungry, stay curious".

I note that while some of us may seem to have a fixed mindset in some walks of life, we may have a growth mindset in other domains. For example, we may feel nothing wn be done to improve our careers but we could be improving vigorously in our fitness. I usually take a moment to explore other domains to search for evidence as to where my clients are demonstrating a growth mindset.

We have this thing called a year map. It sets out what we plan to achieve in a year and we are encouraged to go through it every month. Sometimes at the end of the year some of us have up to 5 versions of the year map. The interesting thing is that year after year Clients have gotten better at using it and some of them have exponentially improved on their results in 3 - 4 years. It's amazing.

Fostering a growth mindset is integral to clients' continuous improvement. This belief in evolving abilities fuels confidence, resilience, and adaptability. Elevate this mindset by demonstrating and encouraging constructive self-dialogue, transforming setbacks into learning moments, and emphasizing the value and fulfillment in embracing ongoing learning and development.

Incorporating progress review and celebration is pivotal in fostering clients' continuous advancement. These practices instill gratitude, reinforce positive behaviors, and motivate further growth. Utilize progress reports, trackers, testimonials, or rewards to quantify achievements. Express genuine admiration and appreciation, igniting clients' motivation and inspiring a sense of accomplishment. This cultivates a dynamic cycle of ongoing improvement and acknowledgment.

Show your humility and bare your neck to help them bare theirs by saying, "You know, the two best ways I have found to improve continuously are to: a. calendar times completely dedicated to it; b. have an accountability partner where we check in with each other at least weekly. What have you found increases your chances of improving continually?"

For me, the biggest gift I give to clients, is to provide my 100% focussed attention and to mirror them, showing them their beauty, and loveliness.

Continuous improvement is possible when we show them the power of continuous learning. In my experience as a psychologist and life coach, I have found that creativity helps them develop a thirst for learning and staying curious. There is no one size fits all approach to it or a standard technique to impress this on clients. Refine your process and Relearn your approach to instill a growth mindset.