Purchasing coach: Advent Window 19: Christmas movies

25 unconventional coaching and facilitation tools to surprise and delight

I've said it before, and will continue to do so for some time, metaphor is a wonderful tool for transformation and insight.

In this series of advents posts of tools to transform and enlighten we've already considered what festive cooking has to offer, what festive characters would do, insight from some festive reads, and also from games we play over the festive holiday.

Today we're going to explore the insights from our favourite films.

To get the most from this exploration, think of a situation you'd like more clarity on, and reflect on the moral of the following festive films, and see if any can be applied to your challenge?

To do this I asked social media for some help so not all of these are my suggestions.

• It's a wonderful life - says it all in the title - remember life is wonderful, and remember all the little things you do that make a HUGE difference to others. You matter.
• Elf - never doubt your abilities, smiling is contagious.(More about this image on 22nd)

• Santa Claus is coming to town - it's about the journey.
• Miracle on 34th Street - the right decision will win out.
• The Snowman - "a lesson in squandered potential"!
• Love actually - there's so many different ways to love.
• White Christmas - count your blessings (not sheep) - linked to window 10's tool, help others (more tomorrow).
• Home alone - check you've not forgotten anything essential, be careful what you wish for.
• Rudolph the red nosed reindeer - celebrate your/their differences.
• Polar Express - everyone has doubts, but believe in yourself and things will happen. Seeing is not believing. Some of the most real things in life can't be seen.

• Batman Returns - good will always win the day, again and again and again.
• Nightmare before Christmas - passion is contagious.
• Trading places - money doesn't make you likeable!
• Scrooge - being a grump won't get you very far, other than alone 
• Frozen - some people are worth melting for.
• Die hard - there's no right time to wait for anything - now is the time.
• Mrs Miracle (please tell me I'm not alone in loving this Christmas movie and watching it every year) - moving on doesn't mean we're forgiving or forgetting others.

Are any of your favourite Christmas movies missing? What would be the moral behind that story? 

Reflect on your original situation, and consider what change in belief or action might enable you to see the situation differently?   

Alison Smith

Unlocking procurement potential - using conventional and unconventional tools
Procurement and Business Speaker, Coach, Trainer, & Facilitator
alison@alisonsmith.eu +44 (0)7770 538159

Earlier in the year I applied some of the unconventional tools shared in this series of advent posts to common procurement challenges - more here.