When helping people identify their goal or mission I find it useful to frame the questioning many different ways. Using terms or phases not normally applied by the person or organisation tends to have them confront the issue from other angles. It’s a form of brain play that can bring an alternate way of looking for the end result. The question depends entirely on the person or persons involved.

Getting away from the stereotypical approach also helps, things like taking the person or group out into nature with cameras, or arranging for them to photograph fish instead of killing them. Any skill that fires the creative juices goes into the mix.

One client was struggling with the lose of their dream job and years of family pressure to conform. We spent the day driving up the beach and just hanging out. Towards the end of the trip their release was huge and work of re-scripting their narrative could begin. One major realisation was that their dream job had in many ways been a slowly unfolding nightmare.

Change the way you ask yourself questions, reframe your language and be more creative.