By adding the mental contrasting process, you can ask yourself how you might keep yourself from making presentations to the number of people required. While you enjoy one-on-one demonstrations, you may get nervous thinking about groups.

You then devise a plan. First, you schedule a presentation for the near future. As you plan for it, you can ask a friend to help you practice when you feel nervous. That step makes it more likely you’ll successfully complete your goal.

It gets even better. Oettingen learned there is a beneficial side effect of mental contrasting – it tends to add energy and motivation to your goal achievement plans.

• Anne Ward and Bob Sandidge, of CreativeCore Media in Algonquin, are marketing, communication and management consultants. Reach them at annebob@CreativeCore.com or visit www.nlpeople.com.