People frequently seek coaching because theyre stuck. For some, the need is confidence-building, for others its behavior change or skill development. But sometimes, no matter how hard a person tries, their progress remains inexplicably stalled. The situation can be as frustrating to bosses, colleagues, and family members as it is to the individual.

Organizational psychologists Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey developed the theory of a competing commitment to explain what they term personal immunity to change.1 The idea is that when people engage in behavior that thwarts their ability to achieve an outcome they genuinely want, the cause could be deeply held internal beliefs that act in opposition to the conscious desire. When these beliefs are uncovered, change is possible.

What follows is an adapted version of Kegan and Laheys process for identifying a competing commitment: Begin by naming something that you are committed to doing, having or achieving. Next, ask yourself what you are currently doing or not doing that prevents the change from happening. Third, reflect on what your action or inaction is suggesting that you might be more committed to (this is the competing commitment). Finally, identify the assumption that supports the competing commitment.

Here are two examples of how coaching clients worked with this technique.

Sharon had been unhappy in her line of work for several years. Although she knew she wanted a career in textile design, her efforts to change fields always stalled after two of three weeks of half-hearted activity. She had also recently interviewed for two jobs in her current field (which she didnt like), and was planning to start a lengthy and expensive program to identify career interests (which she already knew).

When Sharon tried the competing commitment exercise, her answers looked like this: I am committed to working as a textile designer Instead of looking into what training is required, Im applying for jobs that I know in my heart I dont want My bigger commitment is to my current job, where I am comfortable My assumption is that even if I train for design, I am not creative enough and no one will hire me.

Meantime, David had talked for over a year about finding a partner in order to expand his business and take some of the pressure of doing everything off himself. However, despite identifying several highly qualified candidates who he felt enthusiastic about working with, negotiations always broke down at the eleventh hour, usually over insignificant details.

David identified his competing commitment as follows: I am committed to finding the right business partner I refuse to concede on small requests, and blow the deal at the last minute My bigger commitment is to staying independent I assume that having a partner means Ill be answering to a boss, and wont be able to call the shots.

It can take time to identify a competing commitment and its underlying assumption, so if you try this exercise dont pressure yourself to answer all of the questions at once. After completing this process, the real work comes in changing deeply rooted assumptions, which also requires persistence and frequently the assistance of a coach or mentor.

The first step in challenging an assumption is to start noticing the times when you react based on a particular belief about yourself, other people, or situations. Then you can look at the ways in which your assumption is preventing you from getting the results you really want. See if you can figure out how it originated people can spend their lives in obedience to false assumptions that started in childhood. Begin gathering evidence to the contrary that demonstrates how your assumption is not always true.

Then, design a pilot program to begin testing new ways of thinking or behaving. Choose no- or low-risk activities, like shadowing someone whos successful with the job or skill you want, volunteering, informational interviewing, or taking a class or two. The key is to take action and do something different. The very act of taking a step toward a meaningful goal sends a powerful message to the subconscious that youve made a commitment to achieving your goal. In my practice Ive seen it happen time and time again that people who commit to action seem to magically attract the people and situations that they need to move forward.

1 The Real Reason People Wont Change, by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey, HRB Onpoint, 2001 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp.