Unlike SMART goals, which emphasize structure and measurable success, DIVE IN Goals™ help clients align their goals with their values, motivation, and long-term identity. This framework is designed to increase success rates, motivation, and personal investment in goal setting — whether in leadership, personal development, or health care.
Here’s how it works:
Define Your Why
The foundation of a strong goal is understanding why it truly matters. Research in motivation psychology suggests that individuals who have a clear “why” behind their goals are far more likely to persist through challenges.
Coaching Questions to Ask:
- What do you want or need more or less of?
- Why is this important to you?
- What do you gain from it?
- Why does that matter?
Impact of DIVE IN Goals™
Goals don’t exist in isolation. They affect multiple aspects of life, including relationships, work, and well-being. Exploring impact helps clients recognize the broader effects of their decisions, increasing commitment and follow-through.
Coaching Questions to Ask:
- Does this reinforce or challenge other aspects of your well-being?
- How will achieving (or not achieving) this goal impact your daily life?
- Who else will be affected by this change?
Values
The closer a goal aligns with personal values, the easier it is to sustain motivation. Neuroscience research indicates that when people set goals that match their intrinsic values, they are more likely to take action without external pressure. Coaches can pause here for a few sessions to help clients clarify values, explore thoughts, and deepen self-awareness before moving forward.
Coaching Questions to Ask:
- Is this goal aligned with your life vision?
- Is this something YOU truly want, or is it driven by external expectations?
- How do your core values support this goal?
End Result
Visualizing success and preparing for obstacles are crucial steps in goal attainment. Research indicates that self-efficacy and resilience significantly influence motivation and achievement. For instance, a study by Basileo et al., found that self-efficacy plays a major role in the relationships among perceived support, motivation, and academic achievement.
Coaching Questions to Ask:
- How will reaching this goal impact your sense of identity? (“I am…”)
- Picture yourself achieving this goal — what does that look and feel like?
- What obstacles might get in your way?
- On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in achieving this? If below 7, what would increase your confidence?
Implement
Research has shown that individuals who write down specific details about how they will implement their goals are significantly more likely to follow through. Studies suggest that creating a written implementation plan enhances goal attainment.
Coaching Questions to Ask:
- What do you need to keep or let go of to stay on track?
- What specific actions will you take? (Where, when, how often?)
- What do you need to say no or yes to in order to succeed?
Next Steps
Goals are a journey, not a destination. Encouraging clients to celebrate small wins reinforces success patterns in the brain and keeps motivation high.
Coaching Questions to Ask:
- How will you celebrate small wins along the way?
- What’s the easiest next small step?
- By when will you take this step?
A Coaching Mindset: How DIVE IN Goals™ Aligns with ICF Core Competencies
In professional coaching, goal setting isn’t just about structure — it’s about fostering self-awareness, autonomy, and transformation. That’s why the DIVE IN Goals™ framework aligns with the ICF Core Competencies, particularly “Embodies a Coaching Mindset.”
This competency highlights the importance of:
- Maintaining curiosity and openness throughout the coaching process.
- Encouraging client-driven exploration rather than rigid goal enforcement.
- Embracing learning, adaptability, and reflection.
Each step of DIVE IN Goals™ aligns with an ICF Core Competency, reinforcing key coaching principles. With health care professionals in mind, this framework offers coaches a structured way to support clients in creating meaningful, values-driven goals. By integrating coaching-informed strategies, practitioners — whether in health care or beyond — can enhance leadership, team dynamics, and overall well-being.
Final Thoughts: Moving Beyond SMART Goals
SMART goals provide structure, but lasting change requires more than checkboxes. DIVE IN Goals™ create a dynamic, value-driven process that supports motivation, resilience, and well-being.
Whether you’re coaching in leadership, personal development, or health care, integrating DIVE IN Goals™ can elevate your coaching conversations and empower clients to make meaningful, lasting changes.
How might integrating DIVE IN Goals™ shift the way you approach goal setting?
Ready to dive deeper?
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References
- Basileo, L. D., Otto, B., Lyons, M., Vannini, N., & Toth, M. D. (2024). The role of self-efficacy, motivation, and perceived support of students’ basic psychological needs in academic achievement. Frontiers in Education (Lausanne), https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1385442
- Vallerand, R. J., Chichekian, T., Verner-Filion, J., & Bélanger, J. J. (2023). The two faces of persistence: How harmonious and obsessive passion shape goal pursuit.Motivation Science, 9(3), 175-192. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000303
- Vallerand, R. J. (2024). The power and perils of passion in the quest for self-growth and optimal functioning.Canadian Psychology = Psychologie Canadienne, 65(2), 132-147. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000386
- Fogg, B. J. (2019). Tiny habits: The small changes that change everything. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Rock, D. (2020). Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long (Revised and Updated Edition). Harper Business.
- Schippers, M. C., Morisano, D., Locke, E. A., Scheepers, A. W. A., Latham, G. P., & de Jong, E. M. (2020). Writing about personal goals and plans regardless of goal type boosts academic performance. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 60, 101823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2019.101823
