How to use Turning Points for instructive insights
I was first introduced to the Turning Points exercise by Bob Dick at an advanced facilitation workshop.
In simple terms Turning Points can be used to improve trust within the team through reflection and safe disclosure. I’ve also used it as a reflective tool, the results of which you’re about to view.
Turning points as a reflective tool.
In January I turned 20 (so I figured it’s a good time to reflect on my own turning points).
Well actually, my business did – yep I’ve now been going for 20 years, after starting in January 2000 with a laptop on loan in a back bedroom where I had to scramble over the spare bed to get to my desk.
As context, in 2000:
- John Howard was PM
- Steve Waugh was Australia’s test cricket captain
- Petrol cost $0.88/L
- Macy Gray’s “I Try” spent three weeks at No.1 on the charts
- Perth’s median house price was $180,000
- The GST was introduced.
Here are the three core turning points for me and my business over the last 20 years…
Turning Point 1 – Becoming part of the AFN
The Australasian Facilitation Network is a self-organising group of facilitators who share resources and experiences to actively support each other. Being part of this group provided me with access to amazing people, kept me in touch with what others were trying and enabled me to hang out with a bunch of (sometimes eccentric) people who ‘get what I do’.
Turning Point 2 – Starting a café business
My wife Georgie and I started our first café and catering business in 2003. This drove me to gain a much stronger, hands-on understanding and use of marketing tools, techniques and mindset. It also provided interesting insights into the daily lives of ordinary (and extraordinary people) and how we do simple, little things to make these better. Making coffee helps!
Turning Point 3 – Getting fit
Catholic guilt got the better of me when Georgie took up running and I was doing no exercise – at all. What helped us most was having a goal to work toward (HBF 12km Run for a Reason) and the support of each other through the pain of training! Our first attempt at the HBF was an epic fail. I ended up injured with a broken leg, Georgie had a broken butt – well, hammy strain to be precise! Five years on I’m 20kg lighter, have completed 4 x HBF runs, the City to Surf and 4 x Half Marathons.
Why am I sharing this with you?
Now is a great time to reflect on and celebrate your own successes – especially when you’ve had to overcome some significant challenges to get there.
And for you to look at how you can use the Turning Points exercise with your own team or clients.
PS – If you’re not currently on my email list, get in touch and I’ll send you a facilitation template that incorporates Turning Points as part of a group review and planning workshop.
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