Embrace Novelty and Creativity: The Animator's Path to Transformation

Oct 2

Introduction:

As we embark on our fall coaching skills learn and practice series, we're thrilled to be returning to the basics of coaching. In our Foundations of Coaching course, we introduce building blocks that we call - metaskills. Metaskills, originating from Amy Mindell’s work, are not just skills; they represent higher-order ways of being. They are the keys to unlocking potential in your role as a leader and/or coach, enabling you to develop functional competence more effectively. Our framework uses 6 metaskills and 24 skills.

In our recent Learn and Practice event we covered a glimpse of the metaskill "Animator", and specifically two skills within: metaphor and POV.

The Animator Metaskill:

The Animator is all about embracing newness, novelty, fun, playfulness, and creativity. These qualities aren't just for amusement; they serve as catalysts for transformation, through:

Embracing Novelty: Welcoming new perspectives and ideas sparks creativity and opens doors to fresh possibilities.
Creating New Neural Pathways: Engaging in playful and creative thinking helps forge new neural connections in the brain, enhancing adaptability.
Positive Emotional Attractor: Fostering openness and the ability to see numerous possibilities. This contrasts with the traditional "negative emotional attractor," characterized by telling people what to do. (Boyatzis et al., 2019)
Mental Agility: Encouraging problem-solving in innovative ways and the exploration of various perspectives, allowing us to see from multiple angle,.
Focus on Personal Development: Centering on an individual's development, evoking growth.

When applying this metaskill in coaching, we often invite coachees by asking: "Would you be willing to bring some playfulness to this?" or "Are you open to exploring novelty?"

Exploring the Skills:

Now, let's delve into two specific skills. Metaphor and POV (point of view).

Metaphor Skill:

Metaphor is the art of using analogies to explore new ways of thinking. As coaches, it means sparking fresh insights and depth by making connections with your coachee. Metaphors can originate from the coachee or the coach, and co-creating them can create ample space for new ideas to emerge.

In our practice we often ask some of the following metaphor questions. As you read these questions, answer them for yourself. Gentle reminder, there's no such thing as being good or bad at metaphors. Whatever you come up with has some wisdom and meaning, and it doesn't need to be explained logically for it to be valuable.

What’s a metaphor for you at your best?
What is a metaphor for your current team?
What’s a metaphor for your ideal team?

As you respond to these metaphors for yourself, what is it like? Try asking these or similar questions and see what it's like to hear the responses.

Exploring these metaphors opens up new dimensions and invites creativity into the coaching process. When using metaphors, consider asking, "what is this like?" or offer intuitive insights like "it almost sounds like..." and always follow up with, "what is it like for you?" Avoid the pitfall of rushing to relate the metaphor back to the issue; allow ample time to explore the metaphor itself, tapping into sensations and experiences.

Janelle’s Tornado:

I (Janelle) recently had some coaching using a metaphor. I was able to explore my turbulent and chaotic life through the metaphor of a tornado. It was helpful to take a moment to explore this tornado, what’s flying around in it, and finding peace in the eye of the storm. Realizing that when I get swept up in all the wind, I can take my breath and be present.

There was great wisdom and a new way of re-framing what was going on with what felt like a horrible situation. It’s especially helpful because it’s a situation that I have no control over and I felt helpless. This gave me a way to find a new way to look at things, to see what I can do, and to try a new perspective when the feeling strikes again.

Social Change Challenge:

Try exploring using a metaphor the next time you want a new way to look at something. Start with: what is this like? Have fun with it!

Point of View (POV) Skill:

POV skill involves using both internal and external diversity to gain different perspectives on a situation, effectively reframing it. In coaching, this means helping your coachee access a diverse range of perspectives.

Since we were just talking about metaphors, reflect on the metaphor you might use for POV:

Is it like putting on different lenses (e.g., polarized lenses, prescription glasses)?
Or, perhaps it's akin to using a Mickey Mouse View Master, cycling through different scenes with each click?
It's similar to trying on different styles of clothes.
Or, imagine the same song played in various music genres (covers).

Seeing things from different angles and exploring POV is such an important professional and leadership skill in our times because there is so much complexity and nuance. There is almost never one right way, there are lots of ways to see a situation and when we get different views, it can open up a whole new world of possibility. We can access empathy and realize why someone else may be struggling, we can get in touch with the side of ourselves that identifies with someone we thought we were against, or a situation that feels impossible can suddenly become an exciting challenge, and so on.

From Being Stuck to Gaining Traction:

I (Nic) recently gained a fresh perspective on a longstanding issue that has been challenging me: marketing. What initially began as a coaching conversation about my feeling stuck in how I communicate information about our programs evolved into an enlightening and empowering discussion through the perspective of ‘confidence in our value’. It illuminated the significance of this work within the realm of social change and guided me on focusing my efforts on relationships that resonate while letting go of those that don't.

This is precisely why we incorporate a tool called "Landscapes" in our Foundations of Coaching course. It breathes life into both POV and Metaphor by altering our relationship with the subject at hand. This tool facilitates our journey toward resonance and choice, empowering us to take action within our sphere of control.

Conclusion & Reflection Questions:

We believe the magic of using the coaching approach by necessity includes focusing on the whole person’s development while bringing in creativity, novelty, and playfulness.