It’s one thing to set a goal, and aim for a higher level of success in either your business or your personal life. Anyone can set a goal. It’s another conversation altogether when it comes to setting your intention.

Regardless of whether your goal is to increase your sales, save more money each month, or lose 10 kg’s by summer, you need to get your mind on board with the plan.

You need to set your intentions in a clear but flexible form.

Intention is the starting point of every goal. It is the creative power that fulfils all of your needs, and directs your thoughts towards your desired outcome.

Make sense?

If not, here are a few tips on how you can be a little more intentional this week:

1. Know What You Want – Every morning when you wake up, sit up on the side of your bed, and before you stand up, take a minute to set your intention for the day. Say it out loud or speak it in your mind, but start your day by setting your intention. Visualise your intention, and see it happening in your mind.

Eg: “Today I am going to meet 2 new prospects,” or “Today I am going to drink 8 glasses of water,” or “Today I am going to Inspire everyone I interact with.”

2. Let Go of Limiting Beliefs – See your personal potential as limitless. Avoid placing boundaries or limitations in your own mind. This is important in ensuring your intention is powerful. Believe in abundance.

Eg: Instead of saying “Today I am going to inspire 1 person,” you will notice above I used “Today I am going to inspire everyone i interact with.”

3. Take Action – You cannot set your intention and then get to work and log into Facebook. Visualization needs to be coupled with hard work. Break your goal down into activities and take action. The more action you take, the faster your fears disappear.

4. Detach From Your Outcome – This is difficult for most, because you are more inclined to be attached to a specific outcome that you desire, as you know it will fulfill your needs. Rather intend for everything to work out as it should, and be open to all opportunities that come your way as a result of what you have set in motion. The outcome that you try so hard to force may not be as good for you as the one that comes naturally. Be open to everything.

Eg: You make a coffee appointment with a client hoping for one-on-one time to build a relationship for future business. The client arrives with 2 colleagues much to your disappointment, but the meeting ends with solid leads from unexpected sources.

5. Be Aware of Synchronicity – When you set a clear intention, and start taking action, you will be amazed at the power of what you set in motion. You will begin to notice coincidental happenings that seem too good to be true. These are the signs to be aware of that you are on the right track. Keep taking action.

Eg: You start making a few calls to past clients you haven’t spoken to for years. Out of the blue another client who you thought would never deal with you again phones you for an appointment.

If you’re tired of setting goals and not following through correctly, then its time to make a change. Follow steps 1-5 above.

Yes, this is more about mind over matter, but if your mind doesn’t support your goal, then you might as well float through this week and start again next Monday.

The choice is yours…

Last week I was sitting in on a training session with my team. We were doing a role-play objection-handling session where one person posed as a Customer, and the other as the Salesperson.

The objections were stock-standard objections. Unfortunately, so too were the responses.

Most people get nervous when placed in situations of ‘conflict,’ and therefore have a tendency to speak too much. It’s almost as if you feel the need to justify, defend, or prove yourself, and you just start talking, regardless of what actually comes out of your mouth.

Your 29 second elevator pitch that you learned off by heart, isn’t always appropriate.

There is an alternative approach…

You can lead the conversation, or the objection, by asking better questions.

Here’s 3 Reasons how asking better questions can help you control a conversation:

1. Show an Interest.

Be authentic in asking questions to clarify the reasons behind the customers objection. Not only will this allow you to properly understand where your customer is in their decision making process, but it also shows the customer that you are taking the time to listen and understand their objection and ultimately their needs. You cannot sell something to a customer that they do not want or need. Show an interest in your client by asking better questions and understand exactly what they are asking for.

2. Lead the Conversation

If you are the person who asks the questions then you are able to lead the conversation to its logical conclusion. In some instances, customers actually do not know what they want, and your questions can lead them towards making decisions that are actually in their best interests. By asking better questions you can lead your clients in a way that makes them feel that they have come to the decision themselves.

3. Divert Some of the Pressure

In any type of situation where you feel that you need to divert attention away from yourself, simply ask a question back to the person applying the pressure. This is a technique used in negotiation because it transfers the ‘pressure’ back onto the person raising the objection. Not only does it the get the client to consider a solution to the problem, but it also gives you time to strategize if caught off guard.

Your ability to ask better questions can transform the role you play in conversations, both in your business and personal life. Most people try to dominate a conversation by talking, but are rarely ever in control.

This week, practice asking more questions in your day-to-day conversations and see the difference it makes to the direction of the conversations. Avoid asking questions that begin with “why” as these can come across as a little accusatory, rather use questions beginning with “how” and “what”.

And if you ever meet someone who answers your questions with a follow-up question, then you know you’ve met your match.

Have a great week