Wow, that was some workation. For the month of July I’ve been trying something different. While I was out and about I stopped and bought a postcard that showed the beautiful or unusual places that I happened to have visited. Every work day I sent one to my youngest daughter as she was in the … Continue reading Unfolding plans 113 – happy workation
Unfolding plans 111 – work as a performance
I’ve been thinking a lot about work as a performance. It’s something that Mike and I have been talking about. The word covers such a wide range of meanings from entertainment, to carrying out an action and to how well something works. In this case I am talking about something presented before an audience, potentially, … Continue reading Unfolding plans 111 – work as a performance
Unfolding plans 110 – John’s postcard challenge
We’ve got some exciting things going on with our self-service portal. We created it to allow our customers to log their own issues into the system without having to call the Service Desk. Since its implementation its use has grown to a point where it accounts for around twenty three per cent of incidents logged … Continue reading Unfolding plans 110 – John’s postcard challenge
Unfolding plans 109 – engaged
I have to thank my friends at OnBrand Partners, Peter and Kate, for this one. Apparently on average, for forty seven per cent of our waking hours our minds are not where our bodies are. You would have to ask Harvard University for more information about this nugget. Professor Julian Birkinshaw from London Business School … Continue reading Unfolding plans 109 – engaged
Unfolding plans 108 – those little idiosyncrasies
Yes, I know it was hot the other day when I was down in London to present at a conference on ‘Transforming The Way We Work: A Vision for Mobile Public Sector.’ It felt like how it does when you step out of the plane after you have landed in the Costas. The people of … Continue reading Unfolding plans 108 – those little idiosyncrasies
Unfolding plans 107 – Which came first?
Now we all know that the egg came before the chicken. The first chicken came from an egg that was laid by a chicken like creature. That is how evolution works, with small changes in genetic material leading to enhancements brought about by natural selection through the reproductive process. We can put that one to … Continue reading Unfolding plans 107 – Which came first?
Unfolding plans 103 – Gillian Lynne
I’ve been using this story recently, especially in relation to the skills audit. We haven’t had too much success with getting this off the ground for one reason or another but I am reminded about the story of Gillian Lynne. I don’t remember when I came across it but it popped up again in ‘Talk … Continue reading Unfolding plans 103 – Gillian Lynne
Unfolding plans 102 – Why do you want to talk like Ted?
I've come to enjoy presentations. You and I know that I do enough of them. Lately it seems to have been the main topic of my conversations, which is apt. I’ve been trying hard to improve my technique and practiced much harder than I used to. I’m trying to hold conversations rather than stick to … Continue reading Unfolding plans 102 – Why do you want to talk like Ted?
Unfolding plans 101 – Take your opportunities when you can
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that the best place to buy a postcard is not the Post Office. You may find that odd. I know that I did. Where else would you go for all things postal? Well you would be wrong. The vast majority of post offices don’t sell postcards unless you want … Continue reading Unfolding plans 101 – Take your opportunities when you can
Boredom as a creative force
According to the BBC (March 23. 2013), children should be allowed to get bored so they can develop their innate ability to be creative. Dr Teresa Belton an education expert says that our cultural expectations that children should be constantly active could hamper the development of their imagination. This follows on from a study (presented … Continue reading Boredom as a creative force