The Values behind the Goal – A Must-Know in Coaching

By ICA Coach Rizk Mawass

One of the more challenging competencies in coaching is how to handle accountability. A client will ask for coaching services with a set of goals but is struggling to accomplish them and finding it difficult to be accountable.

So how can the coach, in this case, be an effective partner for the clients’ success and happiness?

As skilled coaches, we need to open up the client’s agenda and start searching for values and desires behind those goals. This is the starting point. Are the goals set by the client linked to their deep values? Are those goals set by himself out of real desire or are they set by the outer world? So before making a commitment to the goals, the coach should check to see if the goal holds the truth of our client. If we miss this step, the coaching may be less than effective – Like building a skyscraper on sands.

Let’s not rush into working too much on the surface, creating commitment to “fake” goals. Working on commitment in this case is like trying to change the behavior while the client’s feelings and thoughts are fighting against the change he is trying to make. Transformation needs to come from within or else it will fade away soon. The client is not always aware of what is going on inside their world, he is just seeing the unsuccessful results. This can affect his confidence, self-esteem, the way he sees himself, his self-trust, his uniqueness, abilities, and powers. Taken to the extreme, this could be very frustrating and harmful because, he will think that he is a failure, but in fact, he is just not interested in the goals set, and they are not linked to his core values and talents!

To make sure our clients own their goals we can use some of the following powerful questions to help the client identify the goals that are real to him:

Why are you hoping to achieve this goal?
Which of your core values does this goal express?
What is the purpose behind pursuing this goal?
How you will feel after achieving this goal?
What does it mean for you, achieving this goal?
Who are you after achieving this goal?
What will the achievements of this goal bring into your life?
What meaning does this goal bring into your life?
What does this accomplishment mean to you?
What would the benefits be if you achieved this goal?

To empower our clients in successfully building commitment to achieve goals, we must first check the meaning of the goal to the client, then we move ahead to other steps, like identifying supportive structures, creating a plan, and follow up actions. As the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche said,

If you know the why, you can live anyhow.

Rizk Mawass is a Life Coach who supports others in reaching the best version of themselves and happily living a meaningfulness and successful life.

Prior to joining ICA, Rizk studied and excelled in Computer Engineering for several years, but later discovered he was born to work with human beings, and not with machines.

This discovery was a turning point in his Life. Always curious about the difference between a successful happy person and an unsuccessful one, Rizk found that the difference is that the first, awakened the Giant sleeping within, while the second is not aware of the treasure lying deep in him. Rizk strongly believes in the capacity of people, they are full of creativity and resources.

Rizk also studied music and holds a diploma in Oriental Percussion. He believes his passion for music is better shared, and does so by spreading good spirit and joy with his melodies and beats.

His commitment to justice and equality among all human beings drove him to become a juridical assistant at the Ministry of Justice.

Rizk is also a motivational speaker at Toastmasters International- Loudspeakers Club, where he is convinced that words filled with emotions hold huge power and can leave an impact forever in someone’s life.