“Outcomes are about what you get. Processes are about what you do. Identity is about what you believe.” – James Clear
When I work with coaching clients, we look at both their inner world (self-concept, beliefs, assumptions, mindset) and outer world (behaviors, language). It’s a two-fold exploration of how they experience themselves and how others experience them.
Through these two lenses, we can dissect a client’s thought processes and how they play out in their day-to-day interactions. It’s incredibly effective for creating lasting change.
Which is why I’m so enamored with James Clear’s model for achieving goals. In his book Atomic Habits, he lays out an approach that feels counter-intuitive. Start by focusing on your identity (self-concept) and then figure out the habits (behaviors) that support that identity.
For example, rather than saying, “I want to lose 20lb,” you start by identifying who you want to be. In this case, you might say, “I want to be someone who lives a healthy lifestyle.” You then identify the habits a healthy person might adopt, such as regular exercise or changes in diet. Weight loss is the end result.
This process worked well for a client recently, who is averse to networking, despite it being an important part of her role.
With the above model in mind, she was able to shift her mindset from, “I need to network more to generate business” (which was anxiety-provoking and demotivating), to one of, “I am comfortable networking.”
What habits does someone who is comfortable networking adopt? They may…
- put themselves in a position to meet new people to add to their network.
- reconnect with latent ties in their network.
- ask for help from others in their network.
- look for opportunities to learn from those in their network.
- make introductions to and for others in their networks.
Armed with this shift in perspective, she created a realistic plan (this is key!) that stretched her outside of her comfort zone, yet set her up for success.
This philosophical change, coupled with an attainable habit, provided her the motivation to take new action, which ultimately will yield different results and help her achieve her goal.
I love how effective this model is and how well it aligns with the Leadership Fluency Framework and the coaching process. Identity is often one of the first anchors of the framework I explore with clients.
In discussing a challenge, leaders will invariably ask, “What should I do?” This is the wrong question. If you’ve worked with me, you know my answer to that question is, “Who do you want to be?”
Why?
Because when you are clear on the type of leader you want to be and the qualities you want to espouse, what to do becomes more readily apparent. You take the action that aligns with your identity and your values (another anchor in the framework.)
If you’re curious about your own leadership fluency, you can check out the Leadership Fluency Appraisal here. And, you can read more about James Clear’s approach here.
