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Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article
#2
As a kid did you ever try and complete a jigsaw puzzle where you
had lost the box with that all-important picture of the completed
puzzle on it? Aiming for something without having a clear idea or
image of what you are trying to accomplish is a slow, frustrating
and fruitless exercise. Many people run their lives that way? Most
golfers play that way? It will come as no surprise that players (amateurs
and many pro's as well) universally lack a disciplined, robust and
proven method to put them on the right road to sustained improvement
and enjoyment.
Consequently the focus of this first working session with Clive
was to establish what we were trying to achieve in our work together.
Using the SMART goals method as a starting point (see box to set
your own golfing goals) we explored what precisely he wanted to
achieve. After some soul searching and holding back a perfectly
natural reluctance to commit to a goal which seems elusive, impossible,
even unattainable, especially after 'trying to improve' for many
years.
I reminded him that the first step (Specific) in successful goal
setting is to state the goal in the present 'as-if' it had already
been accomplished. The goal that we agreed on was 'achieving a
single-handicap of 9 within twelve months'.
In the next step (Measurable) I asked him to see, hear and feel
what it would be like when he had accomplished this objective.
He readily identified and was able to clearly visualise a number
of occasions from holing-out at the 18th, card signing to a celebratory
champagne party. We selected a specific situation that provided
him with the most compelling, interesting and strongest motivation.
There are no prizes for guessing the most exciting target! This
step gives your mind and body an opportunity or 'neurological rehearsal'
to 'try out' what it would be like when you have arrived at your
destination. Quite simply, in golf as in life 'if you can't imagine
it, you'll NEVER EVER be able to do it'.
The following step (Achievable) just checks that the size of the
task is manageable, is within your own control and feels comfortable.
We also checked out the consequences of what is good and bad about
achieving this outcome. Surprisingly there can be a downside to
getting what you want, when you have got it! This is frequently
overlooked, since simplistic goals are generally not achieved anyway.
This is treated seriously since this goal will be accomplished.
The next step (Resources) involves imagining having already acquired
all the skills, knowledge, beliefs, confidence, concentration,
values and attitudes (eg. embodied in a golfing legend you admire)
needed to accomplish this outcome.
The final step (Timing) is to accomplish this goal in twelve months.
The ideal 'cluster' or 'hierarchy' of goals is between three and
five. This is just one, the starting point.
How to set a S.M.A.R.T. golfing goal.
There are various methods for setting and achieving goals in golf
(and career, relationships and life itself). The greater the degree
of sophistication or 'well-formedness' (derived from NLP research
of the 'essence' of what consistently and extraordinarily successful
people actually do to get the results they want) increases the
probability of success.
My own experience of working with top executives and PGA tour
pro's over many years shows that those who get the best results
naturally use more elements of 'well-formedness'. Golfing goals
typically range from envisioning a lower handicap (for a tour pro
lower stroke average and order of merit ranking) in one year's
time, to improving driving accuracy from 40% to 50% (and a tour
pro from 65% to 75%). One popular 'partially well-formed' method
that goes beyond 'simplistic' goal setting is called a S.M.A.R.T.
goal:
Specific - Stated in the positive of what you want NOT what you
don't want.
Measurable - How would you know you have got it? What would you
specifically see, hear and feel? How would someone else know?
Achievable - Too big and it will overwhelm. you. Too small and
it will not be motivating enough. (Big goals can create a fear
of failure. Lack of goals guarantees it.). Is the first action
step clear? What is good and bad about it?
Resources - Have you ever achieved this goal before? Or do you
know someone who you can copy?
Timing - How long will it take to accomplish?
We will develop other goals as we progress through the year. In
this first working session we created a blueprint for our journey
together. This picture would serve us well as a basis for putting
the pieces of the jigsaw skilfully together over the coming months.
During this session we explored specific aspects of his game together
with discussions on peak performance states, enhancing concentration,
overcoming impatience, building confidence and much else.
Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article #1
Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article #3
Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article #4
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