Table Of ContentCoaching Creativity
Creativity and coaching are two of the buzzwords of the twenty-first century and
yet little is known about how to coach creativity. In business, education, health
and many other fields there is an increasing acknowledgement of the importance
of innovation and recognition of what is lost when creativity is lacking.
In Coaching Creativity, Jen Gash explores the history, science and practice of
‘creativity’ by artists, makers and creators, translating this into practical advice
for coaches. The book investigates the concept of creativity and examines the
theories surrounding it from psychological, neurological and biological perspec-
tives. It then takes a more practical look at the ‘doing’ of creativity and explores
the use of creativity in therapeutic settings. A model of coaching creativity is
presented which acknowledges its diverse and individual nature. The book also
includes tools, case studies and ideas for coaching creativity including contri-
butions from a wide range of coaches.
Coaching Creativity will be inspiring reading for coaches of all backgrounds,
including business and organisational coaches, those in training, and others in the
helping professions looking to enhance their practice. It is essential reading for all
coaches who aim to support clients’ creative goals and use creativity in their own
practice. It fills important gaps in current coach education and practice.
Jen Gash is a coach, entrepreneur and occupational therapist in private practice.
Her personal experience as an artist and writer led her to explore the creative
process and prompted her research into the complex world of creativity. Jen’s
inspiring career has seen her work across the public and private sectors. She is
based in South Gloucestershire, UK and works internationally across a variety of
multi-media platforms.
‘For coaching wishing to work creatively, this is the book for you! Jen Gash offers
coaches a new and exciting way to think about their work, freeing them from
technocratic and skills-based coaching approaches. This book is rich and has real
depth. It will change the way you coach!’ – Professor Simon Western, adjunct
professor, University College Dublin
‘Jen Gash is well equipped to explore and elucidate this subject as she is an artist
and a coach. In this well researched and thoroughly referenced book she explores
the history and development of our understanding of creativity. A series of real
life case studies demonstrate how coaches might helpfully use creative processes
in their work with clients. A useful text for coaches wanting to explore and expand
their creativity and use it in their work.’ – Jenny Bird, MCC, co-author of The
Art of Coaching (Routledge, 2016)
‘Jen Gash’s book is a clever and comprehensive take on coaching and creativity,
weaving together science and the arts. Its scope extends from the philosophical
roots of creativity to coaching future innovation. It’s a fascinating read with lots of
inspiration for applying the knowledge, I’m already using the ideas in my coach-
ing practice and business.’ – Miriam Akhtar, MAPP, positive psychologist, UK
‘Many books on creativity promise to inspire us with the joy of the new while in
reality bogging us down in programmatic constraints. Many books on coaching
offer to transport us to fresh paradigms but somehow amid a rash of tools and
techniques leave us firmly in the box we were trying to get out of in the first place.
Jen Gash’s offering on the other hand pulls off the unusual feat of being intel-
lectually provocative while at the same time inviting us to experiment with fresh
coaching directions rather than simply leaving us captive within the confines of
functional thinking. I applaud the readability and sheer zest that runs through this
book – thank you Jen.’ – Dr Daniel Doherty, FHEA FCIPD FRSA M.ED PhD,
senior lecturer in Leadership Work and Organisation, Middlesex Business
School
‘Jen Gash combines learning and laughter to write in a distinctive voice about
creativity, psychology, neuroscience and coaching. Her thorough exploration,
suggested model and practical examples will enhance coaches’ understanding
and their ability to work with both paradox and flow.’ – Sarah Gornall, coach
supervisor & executive coach
Coaching Creativity
Transforming your practice
Jen Gash
First published 2017
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Jen Gash
The right of Jen Gash to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Gash, Jen, author.
Title: Coaching creativity : transforming your practice / Jen Gash.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2017. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016009873| ISBN 9781138960794 (hardback) |
ISBN 9781138960800 (pbk.)
Subjects: LCSH: Creative ability. | Creative ability in business. |
Personal coaching.
Classification: LCC BF408 .G336 2017 | DDC 153.3/5—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016009873
ISBN: 978-1-138-96079-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-96080-0 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-66018-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Swales & Willis Ltd, Exeter, Devon, UK
To Maggie Jeffery, my soulmate, colleague, mum and best
friend.
Contents
List of figures x
List of contributors xi
Foreword xiii
Preface xvi
Acknowledgements xviii
PART I
This crazy thing called creativity 1
1 Buzzwords and sexy shortcuts 3
2 Time and place – how we got to here 9
PART II
Creative human 19
3 Creativity and the psyche 21
4 Creativity, neurology and the physical body 37
5 Creativity and human ‘doing’? 50
PART III
Creativity as a means and also as an end 65
6 Creative therapy 67
7 This crazy thing called coaching 75
8 Coaching as ‘creative’ process 77
9 Creative ‘doing’ as part of coaching 83
viii Contents
10 Coaching as activating, integrating and supporting creativity 86
11 Proposing a model for coaching creativity 88
PART IV
Coaching the creative process 97
12 The vessel wall – containing the process 99
13 Enabling expansion – stretching, filling and activating the space 105
14 Enabling contraction and integration 111
15 The point of creative action 114
16 Reducing ‘blocks’ and restrictions 124
PART V
An invitation to coach in a different way 141
17 Writing – journaling, poetry and story 143
Journaling 143
Poetry 146
Story 152
18 Visual processes 155
Working with metaphor using a visual process 155
Drawing my rather full plate 156
Drawing my business garden 157
Drawing organisational values 159
Drawing goals 160
How does your river flow? 161
A vision in collage 164
19 Humour and provocation 167
Humour 167
Provocation 168
20 Evocative environments, evocative objects 170
Evocative environments 170
Evocative objects 173
21 Imagining, being and becoming 176
Windows to other selves 176
Visualisation – sculpting new pathways 179
Being the metaphor 180
Contents ix
22 The ‘we’ of creativity 182
Improvisation in leadership coaching: knowing what to do
when we don’t know what to do 182
Coaching in the ‘key’ of life 188
Coaching using party games 191
Index 194
