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 perspectives. 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 are tools, case studies and ideas for coaching creativity including contributions 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.
Table of Contents:
Part 1 – This Crazy Thing Called Creativity 1: Buzzwords and Sexy Shortcuts 2: Time and Place: How we got to here 3: A Smidgen of History Part 2 – Creative Human 4: Creativity and the Psyche 5: Creativity, Neurology and the Physical body 6: Creativity and Human ‘doing’? Part 3 – Creativity as a Means and Also as an Ends 7: Creative Therapy 8: This Crazy Thing Called Coaching 9: Coaching as ‘Creative’ Process 10: Creative ‘doing’ as Part of Coaching 11: Coaching as Activating, Integrating and Supporting Creativity 12: Proposing a Model for Coaching Creativity Part 4 – Coaching Creativity 13: The Vessel Wall – Containing the Process 14: Enabling Expansion – Stretching and Filling the Space 15: Enabling Contraction and Integration 16: The Point of Creative Action 17: Reducing ‘blocks’ and Restrictions Part 5 – An Invitation to Coach in a Different Way 18: Writing: Journaling, Poetry and Story 19: Visual Processes 20: Humour and Provocation 21: Evocative Environments, Evocative Objects 22: Imagining, Being and Becoming 23: The ‘we’ of Creativity
About the Author :
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.
Review :
‘For coaches 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 coaching practice and business.’ - Miriam Akhtar MAPP, positive psychologist, UK
‘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
‘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 intellectually provocative while at the same time inviting us to experiment with fresh coaching directions rather simply leaving us captive within the confines of functionalist 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
‘For coaches 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 coaching 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 intellectually provocative while at the same time inviting us to experiment with fresh coaching directions rather simply leaving us captive within the confines of functionalist 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
'Having finished this book, I feel it is one I will want to read again and again. Above all, Jen invites us to be open to the magic that creativity can unlock, and inspires everyone to feel capable of accessing that magic.' - Angela Dunbar, The Clean Coaching Centre
