Are you feeling a bit stuck with what next? Can't quite get clarity about your career dream? Imagine planning the next steps in developing your career or business in the same way you would plan the redecoration of a room in your house. Release your career creativity and develop a career vision board.

It's not as crazy as it sounds. Using our creative right brain to shape our desires for our career and lives is playing to our strengths. We just need to get more in touch with this part of our brain.

Creating a career vision board will allow you to tap into your subconscious. It will also help you understand what you want to focus on, develop or aim for. It will allow you to think differently about what you want in a less regimented way.

Your vision board will answer a particular question, so asking yourself the right question about your career is important, for example:

• What do I want to achieve in 6 months/ 1 year/3 years?

• How do I want to develop my business in the future?

• What do I want my career and life to look like next year?

• What do I need to focus on?

With your question in mind, allow yourself creative free rein. Look for photos, pictures, words, quotes, textiles, colours or role models that inspire you and draw your eye and your energy. Use this as a chance to think big. Don't put any limits or constraints on yourself and be brave – "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." (Anais Nin)

Then arrange them on your board to reflect your career dreams. Some people like to zone their boards into different areas, some like a holistic or organic approach but it is really up to you – there are no rules!

Follow your intuition when constructing your mood board and don't overthink why you have chosen something. Remember also not to let the editing process takeover when you are trying to follow your creative flow or you could find yourself cutting out all the new and valuable ideas. Intuition lets us explore new paths and avoids following the same old routes.

• Have a cup of coffee. It opens up the synapses and lets the brain zing with new thoughts.

• Use your hormones. Our body produces more cortisol (a stress hormone) in the morning which can inhibit our creativity so try a late night session and see what happens.

• Take a nap. There is scientific evidence to show a mid-afternoon nap can improve our brain function. Set a timer for 20mins and catch some zzzz's especially if you are planning a late night slot.

• Be idle. Daydreaming, walking and sitting in the garden can give our brains permission to stop being productive and to be free and creative. Just catch those thoughts and images for your vision board.

• Read something to inspire you, for example, 5 words to transform your career or 5 ways to change career when you have no idea what to do.

I used this technique with a client who was working as an architect. She knew she wasn't happy in what she was doing but couldn't articulate what she wanted to do differently, she just knew her current job, despite being in a creative and inventive environment didn't do it for her anymore. Introducing the Career Vision Board helped her unlock what she wanted from her career, and enabled her to realise that her ceramics' hobby' was actually what she wanted to be doing full time. It also helped her define her focus – she had chosen some pictures of beautiful but functional pottery as the centre of her board. The power of the images and words on her mood board gave her the courage to start planning her transition from architect to ceramicist.

Another client found her vision board surprisingly dominated by high heels and gorgeous handbags. When we explored this, she realised it symbolised being grown up and having a 'proper job'. For her this meant starting her own health promotion consultancy and being respected by those around her. Understanding the underlying meanings in the images you choose is important too.

Follow your heart. Your career vision board will have captured your dreams, hopes and wishes for your career and life. Its power lies in the emotional connection between the images and words you have chosen and your question. Spend some time enjoying the imagery and the beauty of your board. Begin to notice the themes and patterns and how the images and words link together. Think about what they mean to you.

Keep your career vision board where you can see it every day. Be proud of it and have the courage to follow your heart and turn your dreams into reality. Let it guide you as you redesign your future.

If you need some help with developing or realising your career vision get in touch for a FREE clarity call.