FingerTips Futures – Learning the Ropes

Looking Back, Looking Forward
I was always the youngest in the school year, which is surprising as I am writing this FingerTips Friday Blog on my birthday - in early September - I will leave the puzzle around those logistics and what it meant for my time at school with you. However, what a September birthday means for me right now is, that it is a time of year when I reflect - I look back and I look forward - and what better tool to use than FingerTips.

What is FingerTips?
If you have been following me for a while you will be a FingerTips fan already. Just in case…
FingerTips is a fantastic framework simply based on the five fingers of your hand. It is so empowering in so many situations- it helps everyone to reflect and connect, giving them the words that work a depth that makes the difference and the tools to use for:
Talking Together, Learning Together and Growing Together.

Learning the Ropes
Looking back - I have been blessed to have had an incredible summer. What am I particularly proud of? I am proud of learning the ropes- literally on a three-day sail on the fabulous Zodiac Schooner- a one hundred and sixty foot, one hundred-year-old sailing ship in the San Juan Islands. I scrubbed the decks, hauled the sails, weighed the anchor and my proudest moment- hauling in fresh crabs to be cooked and deliciously devoured within the hour.

Learning the Ropes
Looking back - I have been blessed to have had an incredible summer. What am I particularly proud of? I am proud of learning the ropes- literally on a three-day sail on the fabulous Zodiac Schooner- a one hundred and sixty foot, one hundred-year-old sailing ship in the San Juan Islands. I scrubbed the decks, hauled the sails, weighed the anchor and my proudest moment- hauling in fresh crabs to be cooked and deliciously devoured within the hour.

Swiftly at our Station
What helped me? Having planned ahead and brought just the right kit. Who helped me? The whole team and especially my mentor at our sail station. Lose all stereotypes – the person who so competently taught me how to ‘sweat the ropes’ coil them safely on deck and work with the team to raise the sails was Missy, a fit and feisty seventy-year-old volunteer on this gorgeous ship. She was a fabulous and patient mentor, encouraging us all yet making sure we were swiftly at our stations whenever we needed to change course.

I Stood on a Box…
What was tricky - and how did I tackle it? I stood on a box… that is how I tackled the tricky problem of simply being too short to see where I was heading- when I had the responsible job of steering the ship. But the team is always there to support - with each one having their post - one shipmate reading the charts, another at the helm of the ship (pretending to be Rose on the Titanic - similarities stop there) and another, listening out for the whistle alert down the ancient, brass tube where messages of approaching obstacles were conveyed. Fortunately, just a little sailing boat and a cheeky seal- no icebergs- phew!

What Matters Most to Me
Now I am back, my many experiences have made me reflect on what is truly important, and in order to ensure that my future plans focus on what matters most - to me, to my business and to my family, FingerTips helps once again- but this time… FingerTips for the future.

What do I want to be particularly proud of? What will help me, who will help me – and importantly, what might be tricky and how will I tackle it?

Sharing New Starts
So many of you are sharing new starts, whether you are returning to work, helping our young people settle at school or at home with your families. Even if we work with our littlest people the FingerTips catalyst questions help us to reflect more deeply, and to have the words that work to talk about our reflections with others.

Strategic Solutions
There are two more questions for you to find out about – but for now, take a few moments and reflect on the months ahead - What do you and your team want to be ‘particularly proud’ of? What can help you? Who can help you? Then plan for what might be tricky… and be ready to tackle it. Your solution may be more strategic than ‘stand on a box’ but planning ahead using our FingerTips teaches us so much more about our journey and what is truly important to us - in whatever context we are considering.

Finding out more about FingerTips

Share the FingerTips TALKING TOGETHER Podcasts with your parents and families.

Read the FingerTips TALKING TOGETHER book here

Invite Ali to partner with you in your school or setting , office or industry , helping you with observation, reflection and connection empowering everyone to become accomplished FingerTips Five Finger Thinkers.