memories, our imagination, and our thoughts, we can find out
how we are making our work and our lives exactly what they
are. Compare eliciting the code of a computer program to
understand how we are getting the output that we are getting.
And if we are not getting what we want we can look for the
“bugs” in the program and “debug” it.
HIGH PERFORMANCE COACHING 367THOUGHT PROVOKERS1 Ask a colleague or friend if they will take part in an exercise with
you. Tell them you are going to talk with them about their goals.
Ask them to tell you about their progress toward their goals. For
the first few minutes (no more than that) think about how unlikely
it is that they will achieve their goals. Think of the difficulties and
the impossibility of what they are saying. You do not have to say
what you are thinking, but do engage in some interaction with
them as they are speaking.
After a few minutes, change your thinking so that you are
imagining them achieving all they are saying and more. Picture
what they are doing and hear how they sound in this future desired
state. Notice how you feel toward them as you do this and engage
with them as they continue to tell you about these goals. Do this for
a few minutes or more.
At the end of this time, ask your colleague how they felt
during the conversation. Did they notice or experience any
differences in how you were toward them or even how they felt
about themselves? Did you notice any changes in their responses
to you as you changed your inner thinking? What were they?
2 Think of someone you find it difficult to work with. Ask yourself
about the image of this person that you have had prior to and
during each interaction that you have experienced as difficult.
Now think of someone you find easy and a pleasure to deal with.
What is in your mind before and during your interactions with
them?
3 Think of an outcome that you want to achieve in your life or your
work right now. What is your desired state? What is your present
state? What quality do you need to find in yourself to begin to
bridge the gap between the two? How might you re-experience
that quality so that you can bring it to bear on the outcome that you
want to achieve today?