When you create important goals, it is powerfully motivating to visualize them.  You can do this for yourself and coach others to do it.  Here are the steps to visualizing goals:

1. Write down your goal with specifics.  For example, a goal of mine is increase by 25% the number of participants in my Public Section of my Virtual Workshop Series, Emotional Intelligence for Resilient Leaders and Professionals.

2. Imagine optimal success. What exactly is happening in your successful state?  What are you doing? In your imagination, see yourself doing it.  In my example above, I imagine myself now leading a group with more people to learn emotional intelligence.  And I imagine myself going to the bank to deposit more money.

3. What are you thinking? Say something positive to yourself.  In my example, I am thinking, “This increase in enrollment has made a larger class so that more people are available to participate.  I am also making more money.”

4. What are you feeling? In my example, I am feeling glad for more participants and money.  Relish the feelings.  Let your emotions flow as if this success were already yours.  Taste the success, the pleasant feelings.

5. What needs are being met? Ponder what needs of yours are being met by successfully reaching your goals?  And what values are you honoring?  Write them out.  Imagine the satisfaction of meeting needs and honoring values.  Stay with the pleasant feelings that arise.  In my example, I am meeting my need for contributing to others who are learning to improve their emotional intelligence.  I let that satisfaction sink in.

6. Notice how much more motivated you feel for accomplishing your goal.  If it is a big project, you may need to do the above steps repeatedly, perhaps daily.  This will strengthen your resolve.

Goal setting should not be just a mechanical process.  Use visualization to engage your emotional intelligence and motivate yourself.

You can improve your ability to visualize goals through our individual and Group Executive Coaching – performance management is an entire Module (http://www.EmotionallyIntelligentLeadership.com ),

and Self-Study Program (http://www.EagleAlliance.com/services/gec/ssinfo ).

Copyright © 2009, by William R. Murray, President of Eagle Alliance Executive Coaching, LLC.  Reprint rights granted to all venues so long as this article and by-line are printed intact with all links made live.