Coaching Application
The challenge in the work environment today is that the education system still predominantly focuses on left-brain skills. Many managers want to learn new ways of thinking; they want to find creative ways of problem solving, not only for themselves, but also for their subordinates. To enable this change for the client and create something new for the future, it is important for awareness to be built around their way of thinking first. It is beneficial for clients to let go of rigid attitudes, schedules, pressures and rules, also to be willing to experiment and explore different perspectives and their creative potential.
It is important for the coaching relationship to be open and trusting, where clients can free their mind, consider multiple perspectives, test things, express emotions and feel that they are in a safe place where they can fully show their tremendous potential and uniqueness.
Psychologists have studied creativity for decades. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is known for his studies on happiness and creativity and the invention of the expression ‘flow’. His speech at a TED Conference focuses on the source of happiness and shows that we are most happy and perform best when we immerse into creativity, in a state called “flow”.
Intuition, harmony with the environment, the importance of rest and relaxation, emotions that guide and inspire meaning in life, are all key to develop creative traits, experience different perspectives and turn logic and rational focus off.
Edward de Bono, another well esteemed doctor and psychologist, author of several books on creativity (Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking, Creativity Workout: 62 Exercises to Unlock Your Most Creative Ideas) originated the term ‘lateral thinking’.
De Bono states that logical, linear and critical thinking has limitations, as it is based on argumentation. He calls for creative and lateral thinking. The idea is to provoke, and to raise an idea that is free from previously locked assumptions.
The “six thinking hats” perspectives are:
As mentioned, provocation is an important lateral thinking method. Clients are encouraged to move away from the established patterns. He/ She may have focused on past, logical experiences. Challenging a client by making silly, funny, out of the ordinary assumptions and statements, shocks them, and makes them move out of their comfort zone. That’s the starting point for creative thinking!
The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
Albert Einstein
Other powerful techniques used to help a client work on their creativeness are visualization techniques like brainstorming, storytelling or mind mapping.
- Brainstorming Brainstorming is a powerful tool that allows people to speak out their wildest ideas. As a coach, we let our coachees dream about all solutions that come to his/ her mind, whether they are realistic or not. Allow a client to play with ideas, look at things from a different perspective. In a brainstorming session there is no space for judgment, criticism or analysis. At the end of your session a client explores realistic solutions, combines different approaches, and tries new things to enable clarity.
- Storytelling A client is invited to share stories that inspire in order to allow a change in their way of thinking, to let them act and feel differently. Guiding them to be able to envision their dreams, their perfect outcome, and create a new experience.
- Mind mapping The right brain thinks in images and by mind mapping a client’s creative impulses are stimulated. The client is asked to write down everything that comes to his/ her mind that is related to creativity. When using mind maps, both coach and client can work together to not only to show facts, but also to identify and understand the overall structure of a subject and the importance of different buzzwords. The client sometimes has ideas and links things that they have never thought. There is no underlying logic and the client is free to write down all words that come to his/ her mind, draw images, be creative and as a result a coach is able to see clearly what pieces of information are interlinked and fit together. The beautiful thing about mind maps is that in the end they sometimes look like a piece of art and summarize information for creative problem solving.
- Role play A role-play can be used for preparing clients for unfamiliar and difficult situations. When it comes to creative ideas and the unfamiliar situation of being a creative problem solver, a client is assisting in identifying what he/ she wants to achieve, where they are at present. Being assigned a role it allows them to act out different scenarios using their creative thinking. Making sure a client feels that they are in a safe environment where he/ she can bring up the most outlandish ideas.
- Question Thinking Coaches are trained to ask powerful questions and reframe perspectives. They learn that the client holds all the answers and learn how to dance with the client around different scenarios. Posing the right question that triggers the right side of the client’s brain and unconsidered perspectives.
Reflection
The best way to measure how much you’ve grown isn’t by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track, or even your grade point average — though those things are important, to be sure. It’s what you’ve done with your time, how you’ve chosen to spend your days, and whom you’ve touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.
R.J. Palacio
References
Bolen, J. S. (1989). Tao der Psychologie. Basel: Sphinx Verlag.
De Bono, E. (1999). Six Thinking Hats. New York, NY: Bay Back Books.
Freed, J. & Parsons, L. (1997). Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World, New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc..
Hofstede, G. & Bond, M. H. (1988). The Confucius Connection: From Cultural Roots to Economic Growth. Organizational dynamics, 16, 4-21.
Mintzberg, H. (1976). Planning the left side and managing the right. Harvard Business Review, 54, 49-58.
Reisach, U. (1997). Chinesische Denkstrukturen und Kommunikationsmuster: Ursachen, Wirkungen und Handlung. Personal, 12, 612-619.
Pink, Daniel H. (2006). A Whole New Mind- Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future. New York, NY: Penguin Group.
Wonder, J. & Donovan, P. (1984). Whole Brain Thinking: Working from Both Sides of the Brain to Achieve Peak Job Performance. New York, NY: William Morrow & Co.
Develop your personal wellbeing and career skills – Mind Tools
http://en.wikipedia.org
Have fun creating!