Girlfriends: Birthday Lunch Card Purchase & Inspiration

Girlfriends … after meeting for a birthday lunch the group decided to purchase a set of cards for future gatherings. 

The note sent to the creators read:

"At our Saturday YaYa coffee we in attendance voted to all chip in to purchase a set of Irene’s company’s thought-provoking JICT (Journey, Intuition, Creativity, Transformation) coaching cards. At the promotional price with tax and shipping, the cost is just about $80; $10 each is right on the money.

I ordered a kit today that will be shipped to me but will be YaYa property so that we can all share it and use it at YaYa gatherings. What fun -- and inspiring insights – now await us all!"

Birthday lunch use that inspired the purchase: 

 

Each friend chose an image from the set and shared, how it spoke to her and what it represented for the coming year for the birthday girlfriend.

Educators: "How does the image inform you to do your work in a different way?"

Educators who were learning and practicing ontological coaching, chose an image blindly and asked “How does the image inform you to do your work in a different way?” 


The responses were incredible: 

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Feedback #1: One educator who chose an image of a large tree shared that at first it was meaningless to him and as he reflected on it, he realize “I need to branch out”.

This awakening was particularly powerful because to that point, he felt like he was doing an A+ job and had little need to change. Branching out meant, more frequent and meaningful use of technology, including more interaction in his classes and being open to new ways of teaching.

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Feedback #2: Another educator who chose the image of the stream seen between the opening in the rocks shared that for her, it retranslated her need for focus. She recognized that she tends to be all over the place and that more focus would be beneficial to her lessons and her students.

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Feedback #3: A third educator chose the roller coaster image. She immediately chuckled she said because she used to be too fearful to ride a roller coaster; she got over that and now can ride with eyes closed. As she applied overcoming that fear to her work in teaching, she declared that she wants to ensure that fear does NOT paralyze her, wants to be free to try new things even if there is anxiety.

How are YOU using JICT Images with your Clients? Client Example

A new client of mine was asked to choose an image card from a display of 10 JICT Images cards. I asked her to choose the one that would best support the topic she had chosen for her coaching session. All through the session, when “tough” questions were asked, she would first look deeply into the image for support with her answers. The image was so meaningful to her that she asked to take it home for use between sessions. (I was glad to oblige!!) Coaches, please let us know how you are using JICT Images with your clients.

Use JICTImages for Meeting Facilitation...

Another use for JICT Images: When participants enter your meeting, ask each to pick 2 image cards; one representing where they think the group may go today, and where representing where they would like the meeting to go today. Begin the discussion with what each wants to share. Don’t be surprised that expectations may shift and that the group may just come together to work on a common goal based on their really “hearing” each other’s perceptions! Let us know what happens for your team.

Creativity in Action...Ferris Wheel

During a leadership training seminar, the facilitator invited the participants to move into groups of three, choose an image and share their 'value proposition'... "What is the value that you offer to the world?"  The facilitator was waiting for participants to choose their pictures, when one of his students suggested that he also select an image.  As the facilitator began to share about being on the Ferris wheel with the girls, he shifted from a passive observer to a dynamic participant.

He shared about his upcoming book and his plans to share his body of work with the world.  His personal experience led to an enhanced use of the images.  Each participant chose a different perspective in the image to share...the exchange really opened up.  During the discussion, he shared that he was no longer on the ride; he was the operator controlling the ride!  By his active participation, he allowed his humanity to show.  If you are facilitating a group, make sure you participate when using the images and you will deepen your connection with your audience.

Value of a Metaphor: The Meaning it Creates!

I just love how www.ChangingMinds.org discusses the definition of a metaphor. After sharing several dictionary definitions, the website discusses that the value of a metaphor is the meaning it creates. That is the value of JICT Images. Any person using an image card will construct meaning from the image. It is what our brains are designed to do… create meaning out of whatever we think, see, or hear. When we create meaning, we go deeper… straight to the heart of the matter for us and sometimes we surprise even ourselves. So, what do you think about what I’ve said? What experiences have you had with an image where meaning shifted because of the metaphor that appeared for you?

"Image" this!

Close your eyes and imagine you've just left the station and are charging uphill on a roller coaster.  What are you feeling as you hear the chains drag the cars up the hill?  What physical responses are you having?  What thoughts are in your head?


Now, allow yourself to be taken on the flat part of the ride before you reach the 75 degree drop....what has changed?  How do you feel now?


And finally, you are on the edge of the descent and then....DOWN!  FAST!  FURIOUS!  Now what has changed?  What is present?  What is the physical response now?


This experience engaged all domains, something most of us only infrequently experience.  When we are fully engaged, creativity is vastly expanded, as is our awareness.  Expanded creativity and awareness open new possibilities which lead to different actions; results change.


JICT Images allows groups to expand awareness which leads to tapping intuition and creativity so that transformation (change) can be more easily accessed.

How JICT Came to Be...

It all began in 2007 when 4 professional coaches began to explore how they might work together to create some kind of product that would serve anyone who facilitates groups of people. They discussed how sometimes each of them and/or one of their clients had experienced some difficulty in getting a group to get to “the heart of the matter” and getting beyond just what is felt and said from the head. These difficulties might happen when desiring people to connect with others in the group so they can function better as a team, when planning a course of action for a new opportunity, or even when tackling a challenge a group is facing,

These four coaches represented diverse communities across the U.S. and Europe and they wanted something that would work with any group, anywhere. Jane Kerschner (east coast U.S.), Irene Kelly (midwest U.S.), Carol Harris-Fike (western U.S.), and Tom Hatton (Europe) had studied ontological coaching in a program called: “Leadership & Coaching: Increasing Results through Powerful Conversations”, designed by Newfield Network and sponsored by Villanova University in 2005. 

Ontological coaches understand the connection of all of who we are as human beings… body, emotion, and language, and how that connects us with ourselves and with others. This understanding leads to the use of questions and practices that involve getting in touch with all parts of one’s self. So, most conversations among ontological coaches, with each other or with their clients, involve all three domains. 

In the case of Jane, Irene, Carol, and Tom, meetings always began with a check-in and maybe a little laser coaching, if requested. Often the use of a metaphor was helpful in describing the emotions or thoughts around some situation and in stating an intention or planning for actions. Knowing the power of metaphor, these coaches focused on creating a tool employing the use of metaphor that would more quickly lead people to deeper emotions and thoughts and, thus, fresh ideas for accomplishing goals.

Read the full JICT Story or Order JICT Images

Announcing JICT Images!!

JICT Images... box of 72 images with open ended questions on the back of each photo should be ready for purchase by spring 2010. It has been a blast choosing our images and brainstorming questions and quite a challenge to reach agreement among the four creators:

Jane - from Chevy Chase, Maryland; Carol - Montrose, Colorado
Irene - Minneapolis, MN; and Tom - Germany

The great thing about using images as a tool in coaching, facilitating, teaching with individuals and groups is that you are surrounded by images. We all have our personal photographs and magazines are filled with powerful iimages so they are readily accessible. However, we know how long it takes to gather them up so we decided to do the work for you! A few of the photos and questions are posted on the left of our Blog...see what you think. JICT Images is great to use with a group or individuals. The manual includes a list of possible uses...all tested with our clients.

The use of images is truly limitless. We will be posting ideas on this site and hope you will try out our ideas and share some of your own.