If you really want to do something, write it down. I encourage clients to write their goals to share with me and to send updates between sessions. When they don’t want or choose to do it they may be afraid to define their goals. Or they aren’t sure of their direction. Or there is conflict between what they think they “should” do and the change they really want.
Making goals real and telling them to someone else is daunting…and powerful.
Clients who do write – goals, notes from our sessions and about their advances and even their set-backs, are much more likely to make the life changes they want. Research shows that writing by hand works best. But whether you do that or use a keyboard or screen when you do write you will make more progress. Why?
- It clears your mind. We have so many thoughts and get so much information each day. Taking a few minutes to write down what is important helps you cut out the chatter and focus just on what is important to you.
- It makes goals clearer and more concrete. Describing a goal or action makes you think about what is feasible, what the steps are and what you are willing to do.
- When goals are shared with another person it creates more commitment and accountability. Now someone else knows what you want to achieve.
- Letting someone else know how you are doing and what is hard to do creates trust and partnership. You are not alone in this.
- It is easier to review and gauge your progress. This helps reveal patterns and what does and doesn’t work for you. As a coach I can also often this in a different way than you can.
- Your writing becomes a record. Documenting where you started helps you see the journey and milestones. Growth, back-slides, changes in direction and challenges overcome are more obvious. Fast or slow – you can see the path you have created.
So – even though coaching is mostly an advice-free zone I will break the rule for this one: if you really want to do something – write it down. And if you hesitate to do so think about why.