CREATIVITY IN COACHING (CONNECT)

 20220908 Module 24

Key Idea: Creativity is the ability to create original, interesting & imaginative ideas or products.

We live in a beautiful world so full of interesting & exciting flora & fauna. I believe in an awesome & powerful God who created all things in this world, and so likewise, we as humans can also be creative. Creativity is defined as “the ability to produce original and unusual ideas, or to make something new or imaginative.” In the context of coaching, it covers an umbrella of possibilities to be Open, Explorative, Agile, and Brave. The following is an explanation of what each word represents.

Open – When a Coachee is sharing, the Coach must be ready to hold the conversational space ready for anything to happen. Constantly check in to AVOID layering the Coach’s meaning of things and perspectives to guide the Coachee’s way forward. It’s the Coachee’s Story.

Explorative – The journey ahead is uncharted and requires a spirit of adventure when the Coach engages the Coachee. This is where the creativity to blue-sky the unimaginable and create alternatives gets birthed. It’s the Coachee’s Dream.

Agile – This is the “IN” word in our VUCA world. And yet, it is not new to Coaching. The Coach that is flexible to bend reality and suspend any perceived judgement toward the Coachee and all he/she is sharing, will achieve the greatest outcomes. It’s the Coachee’s Choice.

Brave – When things have not been tried or tested, the Coach gets into the challenging hot seat to empower and enthuse the Coachee to stick to what they desire for their lives. It is backing their tenacity to push through the barriers of opposition, inertia, and self-belief. It’s the Coachee’s Life.

Class session

Creativity is the ability to create something out of whatever resources you have available to you.

Creativity is all about PLAY, and Coaching is about the freedom to have fun & explore. It gives space for Curiosity. Children are curious and creative, hence the Coach creates a space for Child-like curiosity & exploration. As the Coachee “plays”, they experience self discovery, they learn and dream.

We were asked some questions in relation to Creativity during class, and the question that stood out to me was question No.8 - The Tenacity. The Tenacity of a Coach is about having the perseverance to press on in a Coaching journey and accountability to stay on the right track. It is about being able to grip something firmly with determination and persistence. That’s an interesting idea as we need to be disciplined to see through the ‘creation’. Achieving a goal is a process, and we should ensure that we don’t give up along the way. As humans, we are constantly growing. The only time we stop growing is where we’re 6 feet under. To quote Coach Sanjiv, “I’m a W.I.P. until I’m a R.I.P.”.

Next, we were introduced to the creative genius that is Walt Disney. He was a man who was very talented in discovering creative ideas and turning them into reality. Disney’s strategy was highlighted and modelled later in 1994 by NLP expert Robert Dilts. He defined the technique as Disney’s method for turning Dreams into Reality, with a great level of Commitment to action

As a Coach, you cannot be a cheerleader only. There is a need for encouragement in the conversation, but it also needs a pinch of salt. Put on a different hat and confront the Coachee when there is need for it. Depending on the different stages the Couchee is at, put on a different hat. Finally, Build up Rapport, Relationship & Trust with your Coachee in order to take them to the next level. Without this, you will not be able to safely guide the Dreamer into Reality, nor give constructive Criticism. 

Your Coachee is Creative. Your Coachee is allowed to Dream, but without a Realistic Strategy and Constructive Feedback & Feedforward (Critic), the dream remains a daydream at best, or a nightmare at worst. As the Coach, be brave to take them to the Peak of their dreams.