How the CLEAR Framework Clears Things Up to Actually Finish Stuff
You’ve probably heard of GROW, SMART goals, and all the other coaching acronyms floating around. Cute. Helpful, sometimes. But if you’re a creative who struggles with getting things finished (and not just started with a burst of caffeine-fueled excitement), I want to introduce you to one of my favorite frameworks: CLEAR.
Developed by Peter Hawkins back in the ‘80s, CLEAR is widely used in business and executive coaching. Don’t let that scare you. Just because it’s corporate-approved doesn’t mean it can’t be adapted for us messy, brilliant, occasionally chaotic creatives like yourself.
And honestly? It’s simple, practical, and surprisingly good at keeping your brain focused so you can move your project from the “half-finished graveyard” to “actually done.”
Here’s how it works.
C = Contract
Think of this as your creative session agreement with yourself. What’s the goal for today? What’s the scope?
It’s not “finish my novel today” (lol, no). It’s:
Write one scene.
Sketch five thumbnails.
Edit two photos.
Get specific. Get granular. Define the win before you dive in. Otherwise, you’ll wander around your project like it’s an IKEA showroom.
Takeaway: Always start by setting the terms. Otherwise, you’re just flailing.
L = Listen
This is where most creatives trip up. Listen to what’s coming up instead of bulldozing your way forward.
What’s your inner critic yammering about?
Where are you hesitating?
What’s flowing easily?
What are others consistently saying?
If you’re coaching yourself, grab a notebook and jot down what you notice. Include what you’re thinking and feeling. When you actually take the time to listen, you stop forcing and start seeing patterns.
Takeaway: Pay attention to yourself. The stuff you usually ignore is the stuff holding you back.
E = Explore
Now, get curious. Instead of spiraling into “ugh, I’m lazy,” ask better questions:
What’s making this step feel heavy?
What are my options here?
Am I stuck because I don’t know what’s next, or because I don’t like what’s next?
Exploration is about poking at the roadblocks until you understand them. Sometimes the problem isn’t “you’re unmotivated.” It’s that you don’t have enough clarity on what to do next.
Takeaway: Explore, don’t assume. Your obstacles often have simple fixes.
A = Action
Alright, enough soul-searching. What’s the next concrete move?
Ask yourself:
How will I start?
When will I start?
What’s the smallest possible step I can commit to right now?
The action has to be yours. Not what your teacher would want, not what your perfectionist brain thinks is the “right” way, but what actually feels doable and energizing to you.
Takeaway: Action beats overthinking. Commit to one step, then do it.
R = Review
The last step is reflecting on how it went. Not to beat yourself up, but to check:
Did I do what I said I’d do?
What worked? What didn’t?
How can I tweak my approach next time?
This is where consistency is built. Without review, you’re infinitely winging it.
Takeaway: Finish each session with a quick review. It locks in progress and sets you up for next time.
Why CLEAR Works for Creatives
CLEAR isn’t fluffy. It’s structured enough to keep you moving, but flexible enough to adapt to your weird brain and messy process.
Most importantly, it makes every creative session a contained loop:
Define the goal.
Pay attention.
Explore options.
Take action.
Reflect.
That loop = momentum. And momentum is what finally gets projects across the finish line.
Ready to Try It?
Next time you sit down to work on your creative project, run through CLEAR. Even if you just do it loosely, you’ll notice how much more intentional (and less chaotic) your session feels.
And if you want some help applying this framework to your own stuck project, let’s talk. I offer free sample sessions where we can test-drive CLEAR, or some other approach, together. You’ll walk away with clarity, next steps, and (most importantly) proof that you actually can finish things.
