008: How can coaching help me to be more creative?

In this episode Dr Natalie Lancer explores and discusses with Stephanie Wheeler, David Love and Anna Sheather how a creative-based approach to coaching can support others. We consider how coaching can help people be more creative and what that means by asking:

• What does it mean for the coach to take a creative approach to their coaching?
• What are the benefits for the coachee of exploring and expanding their own creativity?
• Which creative techniques can we use to facilitate the generation of insights for coachees?
• How does a sense of playfulness enhance the coaching relationship?
• What does it mean to empower clients without censoring their creative explorations?
• How do we create a safe space in which clients can experiment?
• How can we own our creative voice as a coach and support others to do the same?
• What are the ways in which we can apply outcomes from creative coaching sessions to specific real-world situations?
• How might organisations benefit from a more creative coaching approach?
• How do we encourage clients to sustain and leverage their creative insights?

Bringing a sense of playfulness and creativity to the coaching relationship and environment has attracted recent interest and research. Our panel of experts discuss how taking a creative approach benefits both individuals and organisations. Our guests today are: Stephanie Wheeler is an ICF accredited coach, working with executives, leaders and emerging leaders. She holds an MSc in Coaching & Behavioural Change and is also a research supervisor on the Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology (MAPPCP) at the University of East London. Stephanie is the co-author of a research article examining the impact of Lego® Serious Play® on team cohesion, collaboration and psychological trust and is co-writing a book on creative, playful and imaginative coaching conversations. Stephanie co-delivers team workshops and coaching sessions on playfulness, creativity and imagination in work.

David Love is a leadership coach, coach supervisor, cartoonist and author, working with senior and middle managers in the public services. He believes in the power of creativity for finding innovative solutions to leadership challenges – from day-to-day dilemmas to the major issues needing urgent attention such as inequality and the climate emergency. David spent four years as a Visiting Tutor at Henley Business School, teaching on the Master’s-level Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching Programme. David co-authored Advanced Coaching Practice – Inspiring Change in Others, which included a chapter on creative methods.

Anna Sheather is an accredited APECS Master Executive Coach and coach supervisor. She has been increasingly drawn to combining her passion for art with her passion for coaching.

Anna owns ‘Art in Coaching’, a platform for sharing her art-based practice and research through writing, workshops, coaching and supervision.  Anna also speaks about and runs sessions on art-based coaching and supervision including sessions for the AC, APECS, the Global Supervisors’ Network and Coaching at Work. She has recently published ‘Coaching Beyond Words – Using Art to Deepen and Enrich Our Conversations’.

Your host, Dr Natalie Lancer, is a Chartered Psychologist, coach and supervisor. She is the Deputy Chair and Secretary of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Coaching Psychology and an accredited member of the Association for Coaching. She is the host of this podcast series and invites you to email any comments to docp-tcppod@bps.org.uk

https://www.bps.org.uk/member-microsites/division-coaching-psychology/podcasts

© British Psychological Society 2022