This is a guest post by Fenneke Tjallingii-Brocken. Want to contribute? Check out the 2017 publishing calendar.

As coaches, we have the wonderful opportunity to meet many different people. The difficulty can be that different people ask for a different approach. This can be challenging at times if we are used to coaching a certain way. And it asks us to be creative in the way that we interact with our clients.

I personally love to work with the client’s sensations and their breath in my coaching. But sometimes my clients are stuck in their head. They have a difficult time accessing what is going on in their body. Or they don’t want to connect to their feelings and emotions because these can be scary and overwhelming. To connect with clients in these moments, you need to be creative. I have a number of skills that I can try and often my intuition leads me as to what to choose.

With the right amount of creativity, we can manifest unique, valuable coaching relationships being beneficial for both you and your clients. I believe that we all are creative beings and that everyone can access the creative power within them. With some simple techniques, you can make your coaching so much more creative.

A relaxed mind is a creative mind

When you are feeling crowded and your mind is racing on, it is very hard to be open to the creative flow. The work that we do as coaches is demanding. Maybe not so much physically as it is emotionally and energetically. Make sure that you recharge yourself by scheduling time and space for yourself. Turn off the tv, turn of your phone. Often we get new ideas and insights in the moments that are not structured. That moment when you don’t have a pen or phone in your hand to write it down. Under a hot shower for example. Every day, I start my day with a moment for myself where I do yoga and meditate. And then during the day, I often go for a walk in the forest. Moments in which I consciously create time for my unconscious to wander off and feel lost in creative space.

Change your perspective

As I am not a painter or a musician, I considered myself as not being a creative person. And by doing this, I held myself hostage. Changing my perspective by seeing that creativity is all around us and by nature already inside of me, I opened myself up to being creative. What are your limiting beliefs around being creative? Be a coach to yourself or work with your own coach on breaking with these patterns. The smoothie you had for breakfast, the work report you wrote, the session you did with your client; it is all you being creative. You are already doing it!

Be curious

When you notice yourself “zoning out” and wandering off with your thoughts when your client is talking, it is time to be creative. Often it is not only uninspiring for you, but also for your client. They are probably repeating the same old story they have been telling themselves and others for so long. A good way to break with the predictable and dull is to be genuinely curious with your client. Be inquisitive and hungry to learn about what an amazing human being your client is. Also, be curious to what goes on in the interaction between you and your client. And what is happening inside of you? Being curious is like going on a scavenger-hunt. You and your client are going on this journey and with every question and answer it takes you both deeper in uncovering the gifts. A simple “I am curious, what’s that?” question can start this process and take you away from the auto-pilot.

Bring in geography and metaphors

When I feel that I am stuck, or that my client is stuck, I change the geography. Geography is how the body physically is positioned in time and space. When I am sitting, I stand up, or lie down. I ask my client to describe their body posture and take on a new one. The body has so much to tell and using the body and physical movements can create a shift in energy.

Clients can also get inspired by the use of metaphors as they paint a picture so the client gets a better understanding of the concept. Simply ask your client what it is like. When your client for example says: “This is huge for me!” ask: “Huge like what?”

As coach, you can, of course, make suggestions. For example, “Is it like an open ocean?” but stay non-attached and let the client make their own creative impression of it.

Use your intuition

Intuition is that capacity to know something, without really having evidence for it. In our interaction with our clients, intuition can be another source of information. But many coaches find it hard to trust that gut feeling, that hunch: what would the client think of this sudden burst of insight? When you are more comfortable with your intuition, so will your client be. Start practicing using your intuition outside of your coaching work. Being in tune with your intuition requires you to be sensitive, to be open and hold a soft focus. Try becoming more aware of what’s happening from a higher perspective. There are many ways to develop your intuition. The Kundalini Yoga I work with, for example, has specific meditations to develop your intuition.

When you observe a sensation, try to give it words without making an interpretation. Blurt it out. When I notice my intuition telling me something, I start my sentence with “I feel..”, “I have a sense…”. And from there, you let it go and be unattached. Maybe it turns out to be valuable information for your client, giving your coaching session a creative turn.

Stepping into your creative energy allows you to be inspired and come into action. Use these simple techniques and ignite the creative spark to energize your coaching.

About Fenneke Tjallingii-Brocken

Fenneke is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Marine Biologist and Kundalini Yoga teacher. She is a global citizen who is currently based in Vancouver BC. Fenneke inspires to be real and become yourself. Connect with Fenneke through Noomii, her website, Facebook and Linkedin.

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