Coaching Tips
Setting Direction.
Part 13 - What will be different as a result of achieving this goal?
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost;
that is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them.”
–Henry David Thoreau. (American Philosopher).
Build good foundations for your castle
Castell Coch - Near Cardiff
Photo credit - Julie Cunningham
In the first article in this series, we started with the big question – “If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do?” That question is designed to encourage the client to “think big” and to take them to a place where anything is possible as they explore their goal.
Since then, we have drilled down into the details of the goal, to make it tangible and achievable. We’ve checked for any “secondary gain” from not achieving the goal and, last time, we explored the effect of achieving the goal on our life, family and job. (Click here to see other articles in this series)
In our final article of this series, we encourage the client to return to the “bigger picture” once more and explore it further with the question:-
“What will be different as a result of achieving this goal?”
Recently, a client needed help to overcome a fear of needles, so he could have dental work done more comfortably. Once we had dealt with the fear and he was comfortable with the thought of visiting the dentist, I asked him, “What will be different as a result of this?
His answer went further than simply visiting the dentist. He told me that he’d always wanted to visit Mali which could require up to 11 vaccinations. He suddenly realised that he’d now be able to take that trip and a few days later told me he’d booked appointments for his vaccinations. My client would now have the freedom to travel for work or pleasure, something much bigger than his original goal.
Like ripples in a pond… In the mid-19th century the Hungarian physician, Ignaz Semmelweis, noticed that more mothers died after childbirth on the doctor-attended ward than on the midwife ward.
At the time, it was common practice for doctors to switch between conducting autopsies and delivering babies. Suspecting that there might be a link, Semmelweis wondered if washing the hands between patients would help reduce the mortality rate.
When he tested his theory, by insisting on proper handwashing between patients, mortality rates improved dramatically.
It's an interesting story if you're a fan of medical history; sadly he was ridiculed by his colleagues, and got increasingly exasperated. He allegedly suffered a “nervous breakdown” and was committed to an asylum by his colleagues, where he was beaten by the guards and died of sepsis 14 days later.
Semmelweis probably had no thought of the bigger picture at the time, but his work saved countless lives, revolutionized medical practice and continues to be a cornerstone of infection control today (Remember COVID).
Solving what can seem like a small problem can have massive ramifications and good can ripple outwards. Encourage your clients to think of what good could come of their goal, the sky's the limit.
Today, Think Big! Your achievements could be limitless. Reconnect the goals to the bigger picture and explore the answers to the question “What will be different as a result of achieving this goal?”
If you’d like any help exploring your own goals then get in touch – call us on 0151 931 5184 or email us at enquiries@nlpliverpool.com
In our next series of articles, we’ll examine the underlying principles or “Presuppositions of NLP”.
© NLP Liverpool Limited 2025
