imagination

Questions

| kevinthecoach

All too often when we consider the future whatever we dream is crushed by a voice saying it’s impossible.

In group sessions searching for creative ideas I have often observed people hold back for fear of looking silly and being laughed at. The ‘normal’ reaction to an idea is to dismiss it as being silly or impossible – people are easily threatened by the merest whiff of anything outside of their experience.

As I have said before, when Apple introduced the IPhone the Microsft MD dismissed it out of hand. Had you heard of Zoom before Covid? Did you think you would be using Zoom, Teams etc. as easily as you once made phone calls?

Landing a man on the moon with less computing ability in a spaceship than you have in your mobile phone sounds crazy! Yet back in the 1960’s the challenge to do so was made and it was done within 10 years.

As David Shaked says, one of the most powerful questions is, ‘what is possible?’

What is possible right now?

What haven’t I considered?

What are my resources?

What might be the first step?

And if I make that step what might the next one be?

And the next?

Who might support me, even if it’s only with a few kind words?

Getting Coached Around Retirement

| kevinthecoach

Whilst retirement doesn’t seem to be a hot topic unless it’s about financial advice, yet it is a vital part of living one’s life to the fullest. When do you think about retirement? Does the question occur when you have successfully made a fortune by forty or is it when your pension falls due? Do you plan to work on past a ‘normal retirement age’?

Experience shows me that people begin to question what their life has become or could become at different points in their lives, my focus is on retirement because it provides an important focal point.

Childhood is the prologue, the career the first act, retirement the second act and death the third act. Once upon a time retirement generally meant one had perhaps five or six years left but today we are not too suprised when people make one hundred. So that could mean another forty years, pretty much as long as one’s working life!

Growing up as a child the questions are around what you will be. During a career the questions are around what have you become, what do you do, with possible sub-questions around what that involves, and with status around complexity, challenges, status and rewards. That whole structure disappears with retirement, so who then are you?

The questions we ask can be all important. The opportunity to use creative explorations can bring new insights.

What will you become?

I have brought together a range of creative tools and techniques to allow discoveries to be made and reflectively marinated to allow new positive approaches life.

As your coach on this journey I look forward to working with you.

More workshops are planned and I continue to coach one to one..

If you have questions please let me know.

New courses coming in 2023

Brain Space

| kevinthecoach

As a child I was frequently told off for “being a dreamer.” As a consultant I would ask managers how busy their diaries were and they would fall over themselves to tell me how busy they were, and laugh when I would ask them what percentage of the week was allocated for thinking. “I don’t have time to think.” When I suggested that they must spend all their time firefighting, they would nod in agreement. Then I would ask where in their job description did say anything about firefighting ? A question then for the bosses as to why all their managers were employed on the wrong contracts.

Problem solving requires space, time and great questions. Innovation requires space, time, great questions and iterations. Art requires space, time, great questions and iterations too.

Keep letting your mind go for spacious explorations.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210319-why-procrastination-can-help-fuel-creativity