Day 3 – 6 January 2014
The first real day of work this year and probably the first real day of work for several weeks, perhaps even since mid-December. It’s also the first day I’ve worn aftershave this year but I’m not sure these facts are related, odd though since I’ve decided to grow (wear? sport?) a beard again.
I’d had only two meetings booked in for this morning but by yesterday, a Sunday, I’d been asked to slot in another one. There is an urgent report to be written. Aren’t reports always urgent? It seems to me that we spend too much time on reports and not enough on getting things done sometimes. Gripe over! However the meeting was rearranged for Tuesday.
Meeting number one was to look at what might happen to the business if the Council transfers its housing stock. I should have asked Lee to come along as he knows all the detail but I didn’t arrange it. There’s a lesson to learn. Fortunately it was all a bit of an ice-breaker and we have a follow up already planned for later in the month. Going to be interesting though.
Meeting two was with the Strategic ICT group. We get together regularly to talk about progress on the key technology issues that we are facing but I find it’s always much easier to talk about operations than strategy. There are some big things that technology can help with, especially making it easier for the customer to deal with us and we need to make sure we are all on the same page as a senior team. We did get to talk about the big things and so we’re making progress. A good meeting.
But the afternoon was best. I went round to all of the sites in which my team are based to wish them all a happy New Year. Lots of handshakes, lots of kisses and lots of laughs. I went from County Hall to the Education Development Centre, to Spennymoor, to Tanfield and finally Spectrum at Seaham. We’re scattered all over the County but it’s good to feel part of a larger team
Learning points for today: First day’s back are never as bad as you think; Things don’t change over Christmas and; Someone who works for me was a friend of my mother’s back in the late 60’s (it is a small world).
Today’s enjoyment rating 10/10, two useful meetings and lots of visits.
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 