Creative Tools: Metaphor

by Gopal Ramasammy-Cook (Career-Creative Coach, ZestWare)

Metaphor is a powerful creative tool. Perhaps it is the most powerful, as it underlies many of the other tools such as picture, story, symbol, and creative thinking through forced association.

While the purists would probably apply stricter rules to determine whether a statement or reference is indeed a metaphor, I take the simple view of metaphor as simply relating one thing or situation to another seemingly unrelated thing or situation. So, for example, an employee might see herself as a cog in a machine, or we might speak about launching a company, which treats the company as if it were a ship.

Metaphors form such a natural part of our language and thinking that we often do not notice them. But the metaphors we use have a profound effect on how we view ourselves, our lives, our careers, and our organizations. They also influence the outcomes of our ventures. For example, a CEO who sees herself as the general of an army is likely to have a very different leadership style to one who sees herself as the conductor of an orchestra. She is also likely to build a very different kind of organization with very different results.

What are the metaphors that have influenced you life? Please post a comment and let me know.


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