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Hey folks, Sam here, the person behind "Starting Points: Operationally Curious Questions," you know, those card decks that get people talking about the real stuff at work? It's been pretty wild seeing how so many different companies are using them, and I thought I'd share a few of the cool ways they're bringing a little more 'huh, so that’s how we do that!?' into their day-to-day.
But first, a quick story. I spend a lot of my time working with leaders across different industries and around the globe. We work on bringing Human & Organizational Performance to life, we talk operational curiosity, we facilitate Learning Teams, and we work on learning and improvement. And one thing kept coming up: these leaders, great leaders, were asking for a practical, easy-to-use tool to help them exercise their operational curiosity and learn before events, not just after.
They didn't want another checklist. They didn't want a form to fill out, or a script to memorize.
They wanted something simple, something that would naturally get the conversation flowing.
They wanted to spark thoughtful, organic conversations, to dig into the day-to-day realities of their teams, and to understand what was really happening on the ground. They wanted to go into situations armed with great starting points, not rigid questions.
So, I thought, "Why not create something that does just that?" And that's how Starting Points was born. It was born from the needs of real leaders, working in the real world, who wanted to move beyond the usual bureaucratic tools and get to the heart of operational learning, improvement, and innovation.
Now, let's talk about how these decks are being used.
First off, we've got the folks who just pick up the original decks. Simple, right? They use them in the field, as icebreakers during meetings, or to kickstart conversations during site visits. No fuss, just great questions that help people see things a bit differently. I’ve heard from leaders that they use them during their morning meetings, at team huddles, and that they keep a deck on their desks, just so they can grab a card before they head out into the field. They've also told me that the decks make fantastic employee gifts – something unique and thoughtful that encourages learning and conversation (I love a good coffee mug, but who wants another one of those). And, for those looking to equip their entire team, we offer great volume discounts.
Then, we've got the learning journals – it's the operationally curious questions you know and love, just in a journal format. These journals help you capture notes, reflect on your experiences, and turn those insights into actionable improvements.
And finally, we’ve got the full-on customization route. This is where companies approach us and say, "Hey, we love the idea, but we want to make it ours." They license the cards, and we work together to tweak the questions, add their branding, and tailor the whole experience to fit their specific needs. Talk about cool!
What's been really cool is that no matter how they’re used, these cards seem to cut through the usual corporate B.S. and get people talking.
If you're curious (pun intended) about how these cards might fit into your world, drop me a line. Whether you're thinking about grabbing a deck for your team, diving into the learning journals, or going all-in on a custom license, I'm always up for a chat.
At the end of the day, it's about sparking conversations that lead to meaningful improvement and innovation. And I'm pretty stoked to see how these little cards are making that happen.
Stay curious, friends.
Sam
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