Last updated on Jul 9, 2024

Here's how you can inspire clients to think outside the box and discover new opportunities.

As a career development coach, you understand the importance of thinking creatively to unlock potential and opportunities. Encouraging clients to think outside the box is not just about generating novel ideas; it's about fostering a mindset that embraces change and innovation. By stepping beyond their comfort zones, clients can discover new possibilities that align with their passions and skills. This journey requires a blend of curiosity, courage, and strategic thinking, all of which you, as their coach, can nurture and guide.

1 Embrace Curiosity

To inspire clients to think outside the box, encourage them to become insatiably curious. Suggest they immerse themselves in new topics, hobbies, or cultures to spark different ways of thinking. Curiosity leads to a broader perspective, which can reveal connections and opportunities that were previously overlooked. It's about asking "What if?" and "Why not?" to every situation, thereby opening the door to innovative solutions and career paths.

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Patti Soldavini

Simplifying Complex Ideas to Tell Powerful Stories
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Bring the outside world in. Often, clients are stuck in a very insular world; an echo chamber of what’s worked in the past. Designing new snack food packaging for the U.S. market? Get samples of amazing packaging across categories from other parts of the world. Launching a new kids product? Visit a theme park for the day. Seek out inspiration from multiple external sources.

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Bob Mitchell

Transformation leader. Strategist. Collaborator. Thought partner. Builder.
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For companies, associations and nonprofits to take on the status quo and add more innovation, I recommend to some clients to consider establishing some kind of distinct subunit that incubates and encourages experimentation in a more protected and focused environment. Important that these innovation incubator teams have strong ties back to the overall organization. Senior leaders need to foster ongoing connections across the organization that enable integration and synergies.

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Dayana Falcon

Talent Mobility Visionary and Futurist 🔮 Driving Innovation & Equity in Tech and Media 🚀 Pioneering Leader and Change-Maker 💡 UF 40 Under 40 Young Alumni 🏆 Founder of Gators UNIDOS 🐊 Check out my work 👇
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Create a new environment where you create space for people to DREAM of what's possible. Our teams have gained inspiration when I've curated time outdoors and integrated the Arts (Music, Dance, Culture). By helping people feel what's possible, it can be a very powerful catalyst to ignite action.

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Shannon Medlin

Looking for your next role in the tech sector? | Join Digital Career Sandbox - Job Search & Career Community for Senior Tech Professionals in the US. | Link in Featured Section | Let’s network and support each other!
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Sometimes all that is needed is to ask questions. Literally, asking more about a client's motivations, and if they have considered any alternate solutions, will help to open their minds to the possibilities. Many clients will ask for one thing, but really need something entirely different. The only way to know is to ask.

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2 Challenge Norms

Clients often stick to familiar paths because they feel safe. To help them break free from conventional thinking, challenge them to question the status quo. Ask them to consider alternative viewpoints or to imagine how they would approach their career if there were no limitations. This exercise in creative thinking can reveal hidden strengths and interests that may lead to exciting new career opportunities.

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Renata Bernarde

Host of The Job Hunting Podcast | Career Coach | Career Planning & Transition | Online Career Readiness Courses | Outplacement | Private & Group Coaching | Private Consultations | LinkedIn Profile Audit | HR Consulting
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This is so true. As a coach, it's important for me to play the devil's advocate sometimes! Inspiring my clients to think outside the box and discover new opportunities starts with challenging norms. People often tend to stick to familiar paths for the sake of safety. As a coach, my goal is to encourage them to question the status quo and consider alternative viewpoints and to imagine approaching their career without limitations. This creative thinking exercise can uncover hidden strengths and interests, leading to exciting new career opportunities. For more strategies on fostering innovative thinking, follow me on LinkedIn for continuous tips and insights!

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3 Diverse Networks

Building a diverse network is a powerful way for clients to expose themselves to different ideas and perspectives. Encourage them to connect with professionals from various industries, cultures, and backgrounds. These connections can provide insights into unexplored areas, inspire innovative ideas, and potentially open doors to unique opportunities that align with their newfound interests.

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Shannon Medlin

Looking for your next role in the tech sector? | Join Digital Career Sandbox - Job Search & Career Community for Senior Tech Professionals in the US. | Link in Featured Section | Let’s network and support each other!
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Getting involved in professional communities as a great way to get exposed to many different cultures and norms. I have found it especially helpful to gain a broader global mindset by organizing events and collaborating with others through open source communities that have members worldwide. Ultimately, only through experience will you be able to broaden your perspective.

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4 Safe Experimentation

Encourage clients to experiment safely with new ideas or projects within their current roles or in a controlled environment. This could mean taking on a side project or volunteering in a new field. The key is to allow them to test new waters without the pressure of immediate success. This experimentation can lead to discoveries about their passions and talents and how these can be applied in new ways professionally.

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5 Reflective Practice

Encourage clients to engage in reflective practice by journaling or meditating on their experiences and thoughts. This self-reflection can help them identify patterns in their thinking and behavior that may be boxing them in. By recognizing these patterns, they can consciously work to break free from them, leading to personal growth and the discovery of new career opportunities.

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6 Future Visioning

Guide clients to envision their future without constraints. Ask them to picture their ideal career and life, considering how they can align their current actions with this vision. This future visioning can act as a powerful motivator for clients to explore unconventional paths and opportunities that they may have previously dismissed or not considered.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can inspire clients to think outside the box and discover new opportunities.

1

2

3

4

5

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7

1 Embrace Curiosity

2 Challenge Norms

3 Diverse Networks

4 Safe Experimentation

5 Reflective Practice

6 Future Visioning

7 Here’s what else to consider

Career Development Coaching

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Here's how you can inspire clients to think outside the box and discover new opportunities.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Embrace Curiosity

2 Challenge Norms

3 Diverse Networks

4 Safe Experimentation

5 Reflective Practice

6 Future Visioning

7 Here’s what else to consider

Career Development Coaching

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