Words in Action is Paddy
Gormley's teaching project. He helps develop the creative thinking, writing and problem
solving skills of business and creative people, groups and individuals,
face to face and via the internet.
(Words in Action is not PG's only project concerned with creativity. Click here or scroll to the bottom of this page for links to
other sites featuring his writing, web design and digital audio.)
Words in Action is based on the principle that creativity is a matter
of skill, and need not be left to chance. For more than
a decade, Paddy Gormley has been developing a unique series of
models of the creative process, explaining the interlinkages
between creative and analytical thinking, memory and imagination,
intellect and the emotions.
Words in Action is potentially
beneficial to everyone, whatever their circumstances:
business people who must innovate
to remain competitive,
creative people who do not know
their true creative potential,
students in higher and further education as
they contemplate their uncertain futures,
people in all walks of life facing
unfamiliar problems that demand creative solutions,
and so on.
Paddy Gormley's teaching
of creative skills is far from theoretical. He invariably
focuses on the needs and aspirations of those he teaches, engaging,
inspiring and involving them in constructive dialogue, and then
gently steering the discussion towards a beneficial outcome. Whether
the outcome is a business plan, a short piece of creative writing,
a set of techniques for communicating persuasively, a series of
actions aimed at solving a problem, or whatever, Paddy Gormley
ensures that the ideas come from, and belong to, the participants
themselves.
The title of this teaching initiative, Words
in Action, is derived from Paddy Gormley's belief in the
creative power of language. He maintains that lively, constructive,
focused discussion is a uniquely powerful force, not only for
creativity, but also for nurturing mutual respect and encouragement. In
all his work with groups, Paddy Gormley connects individuals'
respective trains of thought with one another and with the models
for creativity that he teaches. He finds that participants,
seeing how like minded they are, are more willing to work together
to develop and implement creative solutions.
If you or your colleagues want to be more creative, whatever your
discipline, get in touch with Paddy Gormley for a no-obligation
discussion to find out how his Words in Action may be able to help. The extraordinary
range of his work, from facilitating strategic business planning
meetings to conducting creative writing classes for primary schoolchildren,
stems from his thirty-year portfolio career spanning computer systems
analysis, music criticism, business management consultancy, after-dinner
speaking, management training, playwriting, web design, business
research, report and article writing, conference management, computerised
animation, adult education, database design, poetry, digital audio
production and philosophy.
COMMENTS BY PARTICIPANTS FOLLOWING
THE COACHING COMMUNITY MEETINGS FEATURED IN THE AUDIO PLAYER
"Fascinating discussion that challenged my
concept of language and how it can be applied in coaching"
"Fantastic, what a great and interesting topic.
Enjoyed the format and presentation. Thanks very much."
"I loved this presentation - really interested
in language and very much liked Paddy's presentation skills."
"Great session - really interactive and opening
up creativity"
"Paddy created a very conducive atmosphere
for sharing and demonstrated outstanding time management"
The metaphysical aspects of creativity
are explored in Paddy Gormley's
metamatters project.
Click the image below
for the metamatters website,
which features extensive video and audio files, including live audience presentations with Q&A.
Click the image below for a 5-page PDF charting
the development of Paddy Gormley's passionate interest in, and
unique approach to the subject of creative thinking.
Click the image below for an archive film of
Paddy Gormley's presentation
to the International Bar Association (Dublin, 1998) on his Exciting Writing website.
The symbolic reasoning game with Lewisham Coaching Community (The first track of the "Ambiguity" discussion in the audio player at the head of this page) inspired the postcard designed for PG's half-day workshop for the Society of Women Writers and Journalists in September 2010.
Click on the image below for a copy of the postcard (2-page PDF).
