Obstacle anticipation before close
Before ending, ask "what could get in the way?" and pre-plan the response.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Before ending, ask "what could get in the way?" and pre-plan the response.
- Why it works: Mental contrasting — imagining the desired outcome and then the obstacles between here and there — is significantly more effective for follow-through than positive visualization alone. Naming a likely obstacle before it happens converts it from a surprise that derails to a planned contingency that triggers a pre-committed response.
- Evidence: Backed by randomized trials / meta-analyses.
- Avoid: Treating the commitment as done once stated, and ending the session there — which leaves the coachee with a plan but no contingency for the obstacles that predictably arise.
Why it works
Mental contrasting — imagining the desired outcome and then the obstacles between here and there — is significantly more effective for follow-through than positive visualization alone. Naming a likely obstacle before it happens converts it from a surprise that derails to a planned contingency that triggers a pre-committed response.
How to do it
- 1After the Will commitment is made, ask: "What could get in the way of you doing this?"
- 2For each identified obstacle, ask: "And if that happens, what will you do?"
- 3Record the if-then plans alongside the commitment.
- 4Keep the obstacle list honest — this is not pessimism, it is preparation.
What the evidence says
RCT / meta-analysisMental contrasting combined with implementation intentions (MCII / WOOP) shows stronger effects on follow-through than positive visualization or bare intention alone in multiple randomized studies.
Honest caveat: The WOOP/MCII research is on the combined method; obstacle anticipation within GROW is a practitioner adaptation of these principles rather than the same studied procedure.
- — Oettingen et al. (2010), WOOP/mental contrasting research, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Common mistake
Treating the commitment as done once stated, and ending the session there — which leaves the coachee with a plan but no contingency for the obstacles that predictably arise.
IX Coach prompts an obstacle-anticipation round at the close of every commitment, building if-then plans into the record so they’re available when the obstacle appears.
Practice this with IX Coach →