Creative muscle analogy
Some people mistakenly believe that you are either born creative or not creative. Research and experience has shown that creativity is a skill that can be learned and developed by anyone. We are each born with a certain amount of creative muscle. Like our physical muscles, this creative muscle can atrophy if it isn't used regularly. The more you exercise your creative muscle the stronger it will become.

Situations to exercise your creative muscle
Your creative muscle is especially useful in situations where you are feeling stuck or are locked in "either or" thinking. ("I can do either this or that but I don't like either option.")

The most general reason that someone comes to coaching is to make a change in their life. This process often includes the following steps:

• Figuring out what change(s) they want to make
• Determining the action steps to take
• Overcoming obstacles
• Implementing the plan

Creativity can be used by the client as part of this process of change and exploration. It can also be a way to bring more fun into the process.

Four-stage creativity model
The following simple, practical and powerful creativity model is from A Kick In The Seat Of the Pants by Roger von Oech. Often people who do not believe they are creative will recognize that they consistently skip one or more of the following stages. By making sure that you complete each stage you will greatly increase your creative muscle.

• Explorer – Accumulate a lot of ideas, focusing on quantity not quality. A coach can support a client in this stage by brainstorming with them, offering ideas ("seeding" the brainstorming), and reminding them not to judge ideas at this stage of the process.
• Artist – Rearrange old ideas, combining and changing them to come up with new ones. To support a client in this stage a coach can "dance" with the client, be a sounding board for those that like to think out loud and remind them not to judge ideas in this stage.
• Judge – Evaluate the ideas identified in the brainstorming phases (Explorer & Artist). You may need to go back to the brainstorming phase if none of the initial ideas meet your criteria. A coach can support a client in this stage by helping them to develop their own criteria to judge their ideas and encouraging them to continue brainstorming if none of the initial ideas make it past the judge.
• Warrior – Develop an action plan and implement your idea. The coach can support the client by keeping them focused on their goal, providing accountability and assisting to develop a plan to overcome obstacles.

It is very important that you don't judge ideas during the brainstorming phases (Explorer & Artist). Many people are very comfortable in the Judge role and naturally stay in that role. This practice of "not judging" in the Explorer and Artist often makes you more aware of ways that you judge yourself and others.

Creativity Tool - Idea Quota
This is a brainstorming tool. First define what you want to brainstorm about, i.e. ways to market my business, a unique gift for Mom, how to spend less time at work, where to go for vacation. Next determine a length for your idea quota, either a number of ideas or a time limit. Then start writing down ideas as quickly as you think of them. Do not judge any ideas; simply write them all down. By not judging you keep the ideas flowing. If you get to the end of your list or time limit and still have ideas, keep going. It should be a stretch to get to the end of your idea quota.

When doing this exercise with a group often the first few ideas on everyone's list are pretty similar. It is when people get toward the end of the list that the really innovative ideas start showing up. The key points are to not judge ideas at this point and to stretch your creative muscle.

Variations of the idea quota:

• In a group, have everyone take a sheet of paper and write one idea on their sheet. Then everyone exchanges lists, reads the idea(s) already on the list and adds a new idea. Continue this process until everyone has contributed an idea to each list. For a group of five you will end up with 25 ideas, possibly with some duplicates. You can send the idea lists around for more rounds if the group wants to continue brainstorming.
• The simplest way to brainstorm with a group is to designate a recorder and have people shout out ideas until you reach the end of your idea quota. Be careful to set the rule that there is no judging of ideas. Depending on the group, this can be difficult and you might need to have an observer to enforce this rule.
• Do an idea quota for the opposite of what you want to achieve. Instead of "how can I attract more clients" try "how can I never attract another client". Thinking in the opposite is a great way to get unstuck.

Creativity Exercise - Challenging All Assumptions
This is a two-part exercise. The first part is to identify the assumptions. The second part is to challenge them. (May not always happen in this linear fashion.) Young children are good at this since they are not stuck in "this is how it is always done". Asking questions is a simple way to challenge assumptions. Examples include:

• Why?
• Is that the only way?
• Is that a fact or an assumption?
• How else could you . . . ?

This is often easier to do for someone else then for yourself. A coach can be a partner in challenging assumptions. (Many coaches do this naturally!)

Final Thoughts

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." Maya Angelou

For additional ways to strengthen your creative muscle you can find Top Ten Ways to Increase Your Creativity at www.AngelaZakon.com under Coaching Resources. If you have questions or want clarification on anything above please feel free to email or call.