L E A D E R S H I P C U LT U R E • I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O A C H I N G • G E T T I N G U N S T U C K

CHANGE
YOUR
POINT
OF VIEW
WRITE
YOUR
PATH!
Integrating
journal writing

MINDSETS &
QUESTIONING

Creative
Coaching
Tools, tips & techniques
VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 2
choice-online.com
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CREATIVE
COACHING
The Power of creative
tools and products to
create breakthroughs,
attract clients and
transform your
coaching business

What creative tools and

techniques do you use
to make the work you do
stand out as memorable?
What results are possible
when you introduce new
stimuli into your work?
How do you “break the
ice,” get out of a rut,
shift perspective and create
aha moments? This issue
discusses coaching tools,
tips and creative processes
to help you become a
better coach.

22 VOLUME 16 NUMBER 2
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COACHING
TOOLS FOR
CREATIVITY
Change your point of
view with images
By Terry H. Hildebrandt, PhD, MCC, MCEC

C
reativity most often in- we focus on a problem or topic. coaching clients and others to tap
volves combining con- We can tap into our right-brain into inherent creativity and intu-
cepts and ideas from one processes and combine it with ition through playing games using
domain with ideas from analytical left-brain thinking to photos, words, questions, and
another domain to create novel develop new options for ourselves stories. Created over 10 years ago in
solutions that have never existed and our organizations. Israel, Points of You has become a
before.One powerful way of doing Efrat Shani and Yaron Golan global movement of users and cer-
this is using images and words to have created a series of tools under tified trainers with applications for
stimulate our minds and hearts their organization, Points of You, coaching, business, teambuilding,
with new insights or awareness as that are excellent for helping psychotherapy, and counseling.

36 VOLUME 16 NUMBER 2
 feature

WHAT IS POINTS OF YOU? The approach to using the cards The tools
Currently there are three main tools includes holding in mind a particu-
in the Points of You system. lar question or topic that you want provide a
The Coaching Game was the first to explore. This might be a chal- unique way to
tool created by Shani and Golan, lenge, decision, problem, opportuni- tap into right
released in 2007, which includes ty, or relationship where you would brain thinking
65 inspirational photo cards with like to gain deeper insight or new and intuition
short works or phrases, an accom- creative solutions. that reveals
panying book with corresponding You either spread the cards in
stories, and a process map with front of you face up or face down. unconscious
recommended games. You then choose cards from the wisdom
There is also Punctum, which is deck. You can use both the images and insight
a set of 33 photo cards, 33 theme and the words to reflect on answers regarding
cards with one-word life themes, to your key questions. The process virtually any
and 33 question cards. The newest maps in the game kit provide specific topic or
game released in 2017 is Faces, instructions with questions to look
which is a set of 99 cards with at relationships, awareness of the question.
images of people’s faces that repre- specific topic, issues of gain and loss,
sent the full diversity of humanity and past, present, and future. regarding virtually any topic or
in terms of race, gender, age, and question. The tools and applications
culture. Also included are reflection APPLICATIONS FOR COACHING are based on the four-stage method
cards with keywords, and a real The tools are effective for many dif- of Pause, Expand, Focus, and Do-
mirror card, and process maps with ferent individual and organizational ing, described in the sidebar.
recommended games. purposes including but not limited For example, in working with an
In addition to the tools, there is to life coaching, executive coaching, individual who wants to know more
a global online community of users leadership coaching, teambuilding, about a particular relationship, you
that share stories and games that team coaching, education, career might start with a question such as,
inspire users with literally limitless management, and strategic planning. “what’s working in the relationship?”
applications. Fundamentally, the tools provide a The client draws a card from the
unique way to tap into right-brain deck (either face up or face down)
HOW CAN I USE IT? thinking and intuition that reveals and then looks intensely at the
I have personally found Points unconscious wisdom and insight images and/or words on the card.
of You to be useful in almost any
setting including working with
individuals and groups. In addition
to coaching, other professions such POINTS OF YOU® METHOD
as psychology and counseling have
used the tools with their patients to PAUSE A MINDFUL BREAK
gain deeper insight and emotional Pausing allows us to shift our inner frequency from the always-busy
everyday frequency to a quieter one, enabling us to look deeper,
release. and to break free of our automatic reactions and actions.
While the tools come with
recommended games to play, you EXPAND COUNTLESS POINTS OF VIEW
can also create your own games and We search for the unknown, not knowing where it may lead us.
We allow a shift from our familiar comfort zone– to a world of
workshops. Before using the cards,
new opportunities, insights, and WOW moments.
it is highly recommended that you
“Pause” first, which includes taking FOCUS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE
a few minutes to allow quiet reflec- We focus on our most significant insights. We use guiding ques-
tion and space for relaxation and tions to clarify and define exactly which of the newly discovered
possibilities is right for our journey or for the issue at hand.
clarity. The Pause is a break from
our usual routine to allow us to
DOING CREATE A NEW REALITY

direct our focus inward to connect We advance from thought to action. We draft an action plan or
with ourselves. The Pause prepares To-Do List that outlines the necessary steps and sets the timetable
us to explore using the tools with for realizing our insights.
more focus and clarity.
©2018 Points of You®, Adapted with Permission.

VOLUME 16 NUMBER 2 37
 The client then begins to make
associations with the image to the
I am always
relationship. I am always amazed amazed how
how connecting visually with the connecting
cards stimulates new thinking and
often emotions within the client.
visually with
Next, you might ask the the cards
question, “what isn’t working stimulates
in the relationship?” The client
draws another card and repeats
new
the reflection process. The coach thinking
can guide the individual through and often
asking additional questions to
go deeper into the situation. The
emotions
images can be a launching pad for within the
an entire coaching session focused client.
on relevant dynamics that surface
while examining the card.
The cards bypass our logical,
left-brain resistance and open gram and found it to be a journey
deeper awareness of insights and of personal transformation in
emotions. This awareness provides addition to exploring more deeply
new avenues for creative solutions how to use the tools.
to both professional and personal In addition to using the tools,
challenges and goals. anyone can become part of the
Points of You Tribe, which is a
HOW TO GET STARTED global community of users and
Fortunately, all you really need trainers. All you need to do to
to get started is one of the three join the Tribe is to purchase one
card decks/kits. I recommend you of the tools from the online web-
start with the Coaching Game site. You then receive access to the
or Punctum. No prior training Facebook group where you can
is needed to start using the tools. see many applications of the tools
The kits come with process maps and ask questions to other users
that you can lay out in front of the and trainers.
client, which provide step-by-step One thing I have been very
instructions and questions that ad- impressed by is the willingness
dress common coaching scenarios. of Tribe members to share their
I recommend that coaches first experiences and workshop designs
use the game themselves to see with others.
the power of the tool. For those
coaches and trainers that want SUMMARY
to go deeper, the Points of You The tools and method of Points
certified trainers offer a one-day, of You provide a unique solution
Train the Trainer (TTT) work- to tap into intuition, right-brain
shop that introduces several of the thinking, and creativity. The tools
signature games. These workshops consist of photo cards, words,
are available in many locations questions, and stories that can
around the world. be used in almost any setting for
If you want even more, Points personal growth, coaching, team
of You offers a five-day Trainer development, therapy, business,
Certification Program (TCP) and training. The tools are imme-
several times a year in different diately accessible to anyone, and
locations around the world. I more advanced training is available
personally attended the TCP pro- for users who want to learn more.

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