EP301: Curiosity- The Key To Operational Excellence with Jon Bassford

Curiosity-Driven Leadership: The Operational Edge  EP301 Profit With A Plan Podcast Released May 6, 2025 Guest: Jon Bassford, Operations Expert, founder of Lateral Solutions Host: Marcia Riner, Business Growth Strategist, Infinite Profit® 🎧 Episode Summary: In this thought-provoking episode, Marcia Riner talks with Jon Bassford—TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and operations strategist—about how curiosity can be your company’s most overlooked competitive advantage. Jon unpacks how a curious mindset can fuel innovation, streamline systems, and help leaders build resilient, scalable organizations. If you're a business owner or leader looking to improve operations without burning out your team or yourself, this episode is packed with strategies you don’t want to miss. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Why curiosity is a superpower in leadership and operations How to cultivate a “curious culture” in your organization The connection between psychological safety and performance Avoiding the most common operational roadblocks that kill growth The role of experimentation and questioning in long-term success ⏱️ Timestamps & Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction Marcia introduces the episode theme: scaling smarter through curiosity. 01:45 – What is Curious Leadership? Jon explains how curiosity became the foundation of his leadership style and operational success. 05:12 – From Law to Leadership Hear Jon’s unconventional journey from law school to startup operations. 08:30 – What Is Operational Excellence? Jon defines operational excellence and its impact on growth, scale, and team alignment. 13:15 – Curiosity in Culture Creating a workplace that encourages questions, experimentation, and team buy-in. 17:00 – Psychological Safety in Teams Why leaders must create environments where teams feel safe enough to challenge, ask, and improve. 21:45 – Common Pitfalls in Operations Jon outlines the biggest mistakes he sees leaders make—and how curiosity can solve them. 27:10 – A Case Study in Change Jon shares a real-world story where a curiosity-first approach reshaped a company’s operations and outcomes. 33:40 – Rapid-Fire with Marcia Lightning-round insights on systems, curiosity, and how to step into operational greatness. 36:00 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs Jon’s closing thoughts on being a curious leader and building sustainable success. 🔗 Connect with Jon Bassford: 📧 ProfitBoosterBiz.com and start scaling smarter today.   🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode! Find Profit With a Plan on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Stay tuned for more high-impact, profit-driven strategies in our next episode! 👤 About Marcia Riner Marcia Riner is a business growth strategist who helps entrepreneurs scale smarter, increase profitability, and maximize business value. As CEO of Infinite Profit® and creator of the Profit Booster® strategies, she goes beyond advice—working alongside business owners to implement proven strategies that strengthen financial stability, optimize operations, and drive long-term success. Whether you’re looking to boost profits, expand, or prepare for a high-value exit, Marcia delivers the expertise and hands-on support to make it happen. Learn more at InfiniteProfitConsulting.com. Got questions?  Reach out to Marcia and her team at (949) 229-2112 ♾️