Blog Post: Use the Change Ladder to Reach Your Goals

Coaching is all about helping people successfully move upwards through change in order to reach their goals. Change is one of the only sure bets in your life (you know the others).   It stands to reason that knowing how to climb the “change ladder” to reach the heights to which you aspire will be extremely valuable throughout your life.

How fast can you change?  Behavioral change is rarely accomplished through just one event, but most often over time with deliberate intent - ideally with the support of a certified professional coach.   

It’s helpful to take steps toward change that are well defined, solid and supportive in moving you up the ladder to your goal.  James O. Prochaska, co-author with Norcross and DiClemente of "Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward" (Collins 1994), is well known for introducing a simple and effective "stage-based" approach with widespread utility.  His Transtheoretical Model (TTM) has been in wide use by health professionals and coaches worldwide since it was introduced in the 1980’s. 

TTM is a model of intentional change. It focuses on the decision making of the individual to take steps toward achieving desired and lasting change.  The model was originally applied within a clinical setting to help patients stop smoking.  Over the years it has been widely accepted as a useful change model within the professional coaching community and can be applied toward pinpointing and working to achieve a variety of positive behavioral changes in areas such as:  procrastination, , poor interpersonal communication, projected negativity, lack of personal accountability, and other behavioral blocks preventing people from achieving more success and satisfaction in their lives.     

The "Stages of Change" identified by Prochaska in his book contain: 

1.        Pre-contemplation

2.        Contemplation

3.        Preparation

4.        Action

5.        Maintenance

6.        Recycling

In the spirit of “climbing a ladder,” I will cover two TTM stages in this post and two each in the next two posts.  As you read along, ask yourself where YOU are in relation to making positive changes in your life.  Keep in mind – IF you are in the “Pre-contemplation” stage, you may not be able to answer this question!  (So, if you are open, think about the possibilities in asking someone you trust and who knows you:  “If I were to increase my personal success and satisfaction, where do you believe I could focus for the most benefit?”  Just a thought…).  If you are already in the “Contemplation” stage, however, you will be able to visualize and relate to the basic rungs of the ladder above you! 

TTM Stage 1:  PRE-CONTEMPLATION – No ladder in sight!  If you are repeatedly practicing an unsuccessful behavior that is blocking your success, you are clueless about it at this stage.  Maybe someone is trying to tell you, for example, that your habit of ignoring the contributions of others is blocking your next promotion.  If so, you may be in denial about what they say, or have ready-made excuses why their observations are off-base.  You may be blaming others for your lack of success, or just not able to see it.  You may not see a reason to climb that first rung of the ladder (until you are fired). 

Here are some tactics you can take, if you want – and they begin with an open mind:

• Begin to seriously think about what others are saying to you (your last performance review, your friend’s recent observation, your family’s feedback, etc.), and ask questions to really understand what they mean.
• Today, try taking responsibility for everything that happens in your life, as if you are the main cause of your experience.  How’s it going for you?  Talk it over with someone you trust and who knows you.

TTM Stage 2:  CONTEMPLATION – You see the ladder off in the distance.  It might be useful, but maybe you’ve tried to change before and it didn’t work.  Maybe you believe the timing isn’t right.  Maybe you think it’s not worth the effort of climbing all those rungs on the ladder.  But – the good thing is you’re thinking seriously about how something in your life might be changed for the better.  So you could decide to:

• Explore the possibility of making a change and evaluate what benefits you will derive if you do – and what might be holding you back.  What are the trade-offs?
• Look for examples and inspiration from others who demonstrate successful behaviors similar to what you are contemplating – such as superb teamwork and leadership skills.  What have they achieved that you also want? 

To summarize this post, getting started with the change process is a matter of seriously focusing on what you want to change.  You need to see it clearly and want it before proceeding with Stages 3 and 4, “Preparation and Action,” which are the topics in my next post. 

Are you in the “Contemplation” stage?  Then it is an ideal time to have a conversation with a professionally certified coach to help you clarify your focus on the change you want to make.  Find us in the International Coach Federation listings at http://www.icfphoenix.com and call to get started up the change ladder.

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Author Gayla Doucet - Certified Creative Life and Talent Management Coach (International Coach Federation) and a member of the Phoenix Chapter of the ICF in Arizona. Find her at People Powered Solutions LLC (www.pplpowered.com), and www.LinkedIn.com. 

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