Sound familiar?
The other week I was working with a client who runs their own business. They were struggling with a certain issue and how to solve it. They had become overwhelmed, confused and a bit stuck. They also had a response reflex common to feeling like this, the old ‘Yes but that won't work in my business’. In this scenario it was being used to verbally dismiss ideas the client themselves were generating in the moment. Ah nooo, stop!
It is a response I hear a lot initially as I start working with business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and are too in the detail. Let's be honest, we have all done it, dismissed an idea, a solution before we have really considered it. Explored the benefit and if it is worth just giving it a try and seeing what happens. This particular client was also a tough cookie to crack in terms of influencing their mindset so I was going to need to delve into my coaching toolbox to help them with moving forward!
The ‘aha’
So, with that in mind, I asked the client to do 2 things. To firstly draw me a picture to represent what was going on in their mind right now and secondly to write down in priority order, all the issues that were circulating in their head. They obliged and started drawing and writing things down. I observed them whilst doing this and could see some instant changes. They became more relaxed, their body language was more open, their shoulders dropped. Everything they had been holding onto, the thoughts in their mind was all out and now on the paper. So what?
Well, there in front of my eyes, boom! The first ‘aha’ moment happened for them! They didn't know it, but I did, and I knew it was the start of the magic. This always excites me!
What had happened was, through the process of writing things down and seeing it for themselves on the paper, they had become clearer and realised there were options available to them that they could implement. There really was power in that pen! The quality of the conversation then changed, we had a breakthrough and new knowledge and possibilities had been created. And then they kept on coming, those lightbulb moments of sudden realisation, the magic, like a glass of champagne that keeps on fizzing!
So, when you are feeling overwhelmed or unclear on how to solve a problem. Give yourself the opportunity to pause, write things down/draw and open up your thinking through the power of a pen! And watch the magic happen.
Oh and also pour yourself a glass of fizz to celebrate!
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