by Lisa Lodholm Gilman
 Cynthia Morris agreed to coach me for a session so that I might
share what it's like from a client's perspective. I called at our
scheduled time, a little nervous, trying to anticipate how it would
go, and thinking about what inadequacies have hampered me from achieving
my goals. Wondering what she'd say about those. I knew this session
would be a good thing, but I can't say I was entirely looking forward
to it.
First off, Morris asks me what I want to focus on--a simple task,
right? Here we are, just beginning, and I can't make up my mind.
(Hm, one of those inadequacies rearing its ugly head?) I finally
decide to go with writing. I want to write a script with my husband
for an animated children's show and pitch the idea to producers.
Think along the lines of Veggie Tales, if you've heard of it.
Morris jumps in with lots of questions: Why this dream? Why work
with my husband? Where am I at? How will this feel to me? What will
it look like? What goal, having accomplished it by the close of the
year, will make me feel fulfilled/satisfied/happy? What is my work
style? What resources will I use? And so forth. A couple of times
I complain about where I'm at, what's holding me back, my shortcomings--she
smoothly gets us off that train and back onto one where we focus
on the future. (It isn't until later in the conversation that I find
out this is all part of the plan. Oh, yes, she's a sly one.)
Based on her questions and insights, it's clear she's really listening--not
just to what I'm saying, but how.
By listening, asking, guiding, prodding, she takes this copious,
unfiltered information and hones it into a cohesive, clear picture.
Through this process she helps me break the dream into small yet
significant and achievable steps. And then she really nails me down
to a timeline: What time of day do I work best? Weekday or weekend?
One or two or three hours?
My first task is to hold a "Creative Session" with my
husband for two hours on a Friday, sometime before the end of January.
(She believes it's useful to name things--formalizes it, gives it
legitimacy. Interesting. In calling it a "Creative Session," it
reminds me of an important business meeting; makes me think we could
be like Disney or something. Exciting!) In this session, we're to
outline and flush out the script for the 30-minute show. My second
assignment, to be completed by the end of February, is to research
and understand what it takes to make a pitch. I'm to report back
to her after each one.
Boy, doesn't this sound simple?
Ultimately, what the client ends up with is a totally customized
and attainable plan of action. Now, a typical client will have regular
coaching sessions, which helps keep the momentum and encouraging
accountability. This accountability, as anyone in a critique group
knows, is a powerful motivational tool.
During this coaching session, Morris addresses what she calls "gremlins," the
negative voices we have in our head discouraging us from doing what's
needed to move forward, perhaps even stopping us before we start.
Through coaching, clients take on these gremlins so they lose their
power to paralyze. We all have doubts and fears and feelings of inadequacy.
(I frequently help myself to a large serving of the dish called personal
guilt trip, myself. What does that accomplish?) Relax, Morris assures
us: You're not the only one. Even simply knowing this is "normal" helps.
As does knowing that my heretofore failure to achieve my goals is
not a result of any gross shortcomings. Once again, here is where
we need to be positive. What can we do? What will we do? How can
we break it up into bite-size pieces we can chew on?
Another key principle guiding Morris' coaching is her focus on the
vision, rather than the now. (We all know where we are know, don't
we? Each one of us is an indisputable expert on the topic of "What's
Wrong With My Current Situation.") If you start from the muck,
it's hard to move from there, she says. Instead, she starts with
the dream: what you enjoy about it, what you want. What really resounds
with me--something I'll hold onto even if the rest fades--is her
overriding belief that, if you have within you this desire,
this dream, then you also have what you need to do it. It's
her platform of rampant, raging optimism, and it's very liberating.
After my first session, I'm resolved to meet my goals. I'll also
try to limit how much I beat myself up. Though it's easier said than
done, I do recognize it harms, not helps. By the way, anybody know
how to pitch a show? (It's my homework, I had to ask!)
I welcome your comments and suggestions. If you've had
creativity coaching, share your experience with other readers. Contact
me.
|
