Points of You® creative tools for training and development

Points of you® tools are innovative, inspiring tools for training and development grounded in principles of working with photography as a “vehicle” for expanding perspectives, opening possibilities, inspiring action.

The Coaching Game is an easy to use tool that brings a fresh spirit of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to every encounter. The game contains 65 cards, a 165-page book with stories, quotes and coaching questions, 4 process charts and a focus-notes pad.
Punctum uses colorful and stunning photos, life topics and powerful questions to create a playful atmosphere of learning and exploration. This game includes 33 photo cards, 33 word cards, 33 question cards, a cloth process-chart and a user guide.

Why to use it?
“Viewing any photograph begins an associative and emotional process in each viewer, and each viewer sees a unique reality inside the photograph’s borders. Thus any single photograph can hold numerous meanings simultaneously. The borders of every snapshot form both a window into the image and also a window into the viewer’s mind” (Judy Wiser, “Photo Therapy techniques”)

How to use this tool?
What I love most about Points of you® is the wide variety of potential uses. It’s magic works effectively both in one-on-one setting and in a conference environment with hundreds of participants. Those are different processes of course, and require different facilitations skills and styles – but the tools never fail in energizing the group and inspiring insights buy inviting and embracing multiple perspectives.

The Points of You® method is a four step process that starts with an invitation to participants to first meet themselves in a Pause, then Expand their perspective by exploring one or multiple photos (typically guided through an unexpected but precise conversational process), Focus on their most important insight and conclude the process by designing their next steps –  the forthcoming Actions.

Let me share couple of examples of how I use the tools:

• In one on coaching conversations (combining the use of photography, words, stories and powerful coaching questions helps the coachee to dive deep faster, feel more resourceful, inspired, empowered and accountable to act)
• In team coaching processes when assessing team dynamics I often use Points of You tools combined with other frameworks like Lencioni’s Team effectiveness pyramid or the Four rooms of change
• In group coaching sessions, using a dynamic conversation process combining dyads, small group conversations and personal reflection. The process can involve exchanging cards, building group puzzles, working with photo albums, word association charts, etc.
• In leadership development training to facilitate feedback and self-reflection (exploring one’s own leadership impact, communication style or people engagement skills) – the exercise is based on using a photo album, fast paced speed dating process and silent observation recording from multiple observers
• In innovation and creativity workshops – to foster breakthrough thinking, practice non-judgement, ignite new perspectives
• In strategic planning – as a visioning tool, cultural assessment tool, strategy assessment tool
• As an energizer or a networking tool in large conference environment

If you wish to check the tool in action, see the video with pictures from diverse workshops using POY:

Where to get it?
On www.points-of-you.com you can experience playing with Points of You cards; buy The Coaching Game and Punctum; search for Trainer Certification program information, and also find numerous inspiring “goodies” (Journals, downloadable Postcards, inspirational quotes, music … and last, but not least – several ready-to-use workshop facilitation manuals, downloadable for free)