This was originally published as a bonus article in the Coaching Confidence weekly email during October 2011. To start getting your very own copy each week enter your details under “Don’t miss a thing!” to the right of this page.

Crazy combinations

When channel hopping on the TV recently I came across an item on Asian cooking. The chef was introducing the presenters to the taste combination of pineapple and peanuts.

Both presenters expressed surprise at the idea of putting both of these flavours together prior to testing the dish. Both also agreed that they really liked the way they worked together.

The chef responded to their comments with “Sometimes those combinations seem crazy but they just work.”

I know when I’m coaching someone who feels that they are stuck in a situation that when questioned we start with the obvious, often practical, answers first, before we find the solution that will work for this individual.

Now, I’m not for one minute suggesting that obvious and/or practical solutions never work. It’s just that they are often the solutions that the individual has already tried before we get as far as a coaching conversation.

It’s those answers that are not as immediately obvious, including those crazy combinations, that can just work.

This week I invite you to play with the following.

1. Pick something that you would like to get some more ideas around, perhaps a situation where you feel that they are stuck and allow yourself to play.

2. Grab a pen and paper and something that will take 5 minutes and ideally alert you once that time is over (watch/mobile phone etc)

3. Allow yourself 5 minutes to constantly write as many approaches, solutions and combinations that could be applied in the situation that you have chosen to play with.

Things to remember before you start your 5 minutes:

• You do not have to take any action on anything that you write down – if something springs to mind and you automatically dismiss it that it wouldn’t work, write it down anyway and see what comes next.
• Allow yourself to be creative. If something seems insane and improbable write it down anyway and see what the next idea/thought to write down will be.
• Just keep writing, no matter how silly or unbelievable an answer may appear – if you imagine a dragon that can travel faster than the speed of light as an answer, it is perfectly acceptable to write that down and then see what comes up next.

4. Once you have had your 5 minutes of writing count up how many answers you have. If you have not got at least 30, I suggest you keep writing until you come up with that figure.

5. Read through your answers and notice what new approaches occur to you and if there are any that you may want to take action upon.

What often happens with this exercise is that people find it lets trains of thought to flow without being dismissed as impractical etc. This allows new ideas and combinations to appear some that may even appear crazy at first but just work.

Have a fun week with some crazy combinations,

Love

Jen

About the Author

Jen Waller is on a mission to support, nurture and encourage coaching skills and talents from non-coach to coach and beyond.

She has created a free 7 day e-course about how to create your own unique coaching welcome pack that works for you and your clients. Get your copy here.