Life Consultants and Their Tools…

You may wonder what do life consultants, relationship coaches or counselors really do in sessions… And the truth is we work in many different ways, trying to meet our clients where they are. Sometimes the topics are profound, like: why don’t I trust myself? Why am I so anxious about my kids’ safety? How can I communicate more effectively? How can I trust that my partner loves me? How do I set boundaries? Other times we work on much more concrete goals like: how to implement my morning routine, how to create a better and more efficient intake process with clients, how do I organize my evenings, create better sleep strategies, etc…

When I don my Life Consultant hat, I try to bring up new strategies and exercises to the table that help my clients think more creatively. Creative thinking isn’t just for creatives. Creative thinking is a way to see new and different perspectives, notice subtleties of reality, and meet the people in our lives where they are. 

One exercise I first read about in Forbes is called “Reverse Brainstorming:” I love it!

Old-fashioned brainstorming is a creative thinking technique that was coined in 1938 by Alex Osborn. By discussing a problem or situation with a group of people, all manner of ideas are floated and people can encourage each other in this creative thinking process.

Yet, studies show that our brain doesn’t always work that way. People often aren’t capable of showing creativity on command. As it happens, people tend to over-think problems first. 

Reverse brainstorming is a different approach to brainstorming by stating the problem in reverse to help solve problems by looking at them from a completely different angle and generating more creative solutions. 

Instead of thinking about direct solutions to a problem, reverse brainstorming works by identifying ways you could cause or worsen a problem. You then reverse these ideas to find solutions you hadn't thought of before.

To use this technique, you start with one of two "reverse" questions:

Instead of asking, "How do I solve or prevent this problem?" ask, "How could I possibly cause the problem?" And instead of asking "How do I achieve these results?" ask, "How could I possibly achieve the opposite effect?"

Then, brainstorm answers to generate reverse solution ideas. Allow the ideas to flow freely – do not reject anything at this stage.

Once you have brainstormed all the ideas to create the problem, now reverse these into solution ideas for the original problem or challenge.

Finally, evaluate these solution ideas. Can you see a potential solution? Can you see the attributes of a potential solution?

Like normal brainstorming, you can reverse brainstorm on your own but you will likely generate more varied ideas as part of a team.

Here is a link to a colorful brainstorming exercise: creative thinking exercise from my master coach training.

Reach out for your 30-minute exploratory call with me today and see how creative thinking with a life consultant can bring you closer to your dreams.

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Are you interested in working on your personal development? Are you looking for a life coach or a life consultant? Are you feeling stagnant? Do you want to jumpstart change?

 My transformational approach is a process where awareness, alignment, and action work together as catalysts to create momentum for change. 

*Awareness is knowing what you genuinely want and need.

*Alignment is the symmetry between our values and our actions. It means our inner and outer worlds match.

*Action is when you are conscious that what you say, do and think are in harmony with your values.

Together we build an understanding of what you want to accomplish, and delve deeply into building awareness around any thoughts and assumptions that you may already have. To truly transform your life, I will empower you to rethink what’s possible for you.

The tools we use everyday can we sophisticated or basic… it is all about what you need!

Learn more about my approach to life consulting and relationship coaching here or get in touch for your free 30-minute consultation here! Don’t forget to follow along @LilyManne on social for more regular updates!