Some comments in a thread, reproduced here, about whether goals should be SMART, what tangible goals are and how to measure the success of things.
I see “tangible” as very similar to concrete; something that can be phycially touched.  I’d include a document and a minuted or signed off agreement.
The dictionary would do well to clarify whether it means physically touched or emotionally felt.
I see emotions, behaviours, attitudes, trust and culture as intangible but very important.  Projects go wrong and millions can be wasted due to poor alignment, people stalling, disagreements about scope or direction.
Intangible, but measureable by survey, trusted/ expert opinion.
Is the environment getting better?  I recycle and feel great about it.  But tangible proof is in tonnage of waste and air analysis etc. Tangible, concrete things check any propensity to delude oneself and set a context if opinions differ.
Tangible, business measures can be woefully inadequate.  Intangible ones are often ignored unless the senior person is open minded.

Sometimes people talk about “getting ducks in a row” or “people singing from the same hymn sheet”.  I’m interested in considering if I could come up with a more apt metaphor for a situation.

I’m going to explore a way of coming up with a good measure.
How do you measure if this is a great thread?
Using Clean Language questions:
What kind of thread is this thread?
Chris made an interesting proposal and others gave comments.
Is there anything else about this thread?
My comments may or may not be appearing as argumentative and unsupportive.
And a thread with “proposal”, “comments”, and “may be unsupportive” is like what?
It’s like a meal at a friend’s house.  If I’m offered food and I appreciate it and comment on it, it’s okay as long as both the food is good and my friend and I continue to have a mutually appreciative relationship.
And is there a relationship between food at a friend’s house and a great thread?
Yes, this is a great thread (like a good meal at a friend’s house).  As long as I appreciate my host (thanks Chris for an interesting topic), and I can speak my mind (comment on the food), it’s a great thread.
How do you measure if this is a great thread?
I can ask myself if this is like food at a friend’s house and the evening is going well.

I have now a perfectly fitting metaphor, that is personal to me and captures several dimensions of what I’m trying to measure.  It measures some tangible things (comments) and some subjective things (the evening, and relationship is going well).  The Clean Language questions help an individual or group come up with a unique, agreed and very well fitting metaphor for multiple dimensions of the situation.  I suggest this is a truly powerful and summary measure.
People are likely to be truthful and be aware of tailor made metaphors.  Or to apt generic ones (are we spinning our wheels).
Metaphors are personal, so most people wouldn’t respond to my metaphor (the meal), but would respond to their own, or a group-created metaphor.  People may have different answers, but comparing the answers may result in clear pointers to what’s going wrong or a combined metaphor if there is a bit more facilitation.

So my alternative to SMART is the “measure within the metaphor”, asked of the person or people to created that metaphor and repeated for anyone involved, using their metaphor.

My measures for whether I have explained myself and should stop are:
Can you “see that clearly” and am I “banging on”; both metaphors.

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” (Sign hanging in Einstein’s office at Princeton)

Andy Murray is doing well at Wimbledon.  How could he ensure he is at his best during the toughest parts of the next matches?  If he asked me to help, what could I do?

Clean Language coaching uses a person’s own words to help them achieve their goals and make the most of their resources.

I’m going to state some quotes from Andy from a BBC interview and offer some questions that could help him focus on what he needs to win tennis games.  I’m not expecting Andy to read this, but everyone can imagine how the questions can be adapted to anyone’s situation and their goals.

Andy talked about
- winning tennis games

- being “close to the very top”

- angry with myself

- more independent

- as calm as possible

- boxers also play a solitary game

- when there are a lot of people behind you, it helps

The questions follow a format and the client’s words are used.  The overall focus is generally to find out more about the client’s goals and resources (anything that helps them).  Clean Language makes few assumptions about the client’s experience and let’s the client take time to find out about what needs to happen for their goals to be fulfilled.

- And when “close to the top”, is there anything else about “close to the top”?
- And what kind of “close” it that “close”?
- And when you are “close to the top”, what happens next?
- And is there a relationship between “close to the top” and “winning tennis games”?
- And what needs to happen for “winning”?
- And what kind of “winning” it that “winning”?
- And is there anything else about “winning”?
- And when “winning”, what happens to “angry with myself”?
- And is there a relationship between “angry with myself” and “winning tennis games”?
- And when “angry at myself”, what would you like to have happen?
- And when “as calm as possible”, what kind of “calm” is that “clam”?
- And is there anything else about “calm”?
- And when “boxers also play a solitary game”, what do boxers know about “winning tennis games”?
- And when “there are a lot of people behind you, it helps”, whereabouts behind you are those people?
- And what kind of “people” are those “people”?
- And what’s the relationship between people behind you and “it helps”?
- And “winning tennis games” and “boxers” and “people behind you” and “calm”.  And is there anything else about “winning tennis games”?

- And “winning tennis games” is like what?

You may see how these questions focus on areas and relationships that are very likely to be useful to Andy being at his best for his next match.  These questions are tailored for a client and how they experience and talk about what’s going on for them.  Clean Language feels most powerful when you take part is a session so it is about your words and experiences.

If you are interested in Clean Language coaching, please contact me at +44 (0) 7703 176167.  I’d be happy to tell you about it and let you know what are good next steps to help you win Wimbledon, or whatever your goal is.

Brian Birch

http://www.coaching-the-consultant.com