Lee told some great stories today. It was at our latest round of presentations. It was his turn to get involved. I try to spread the love around. The theme for this time was trust and no doubt I’ll come back to this in a later blog. Lee went on to talk about how we … Continue reading Unfolding plans 134 – Sonic coats
Unfolding plans 133 – summit else
The motorcycle outriders held the traffic up at Thinford roundabout. Their blue lights cut through the dank morning air. Helicopters hovered above as the threat level was set at high. The limousines with their blacked out windows sped through the empty roads before screeching to a halt outside the Educational Development Centre. The delegates hurried … Continue reading Unfolding plans 133 – summit else
Unfolding plans 132 – more jobs or fewer jobs
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. That’s what I have often been told. We’ve been telling a story about the North East and the technical industry. It is about the number of jobs that the sector carries. We’ve been saying that there are thirty thousand jobs and two thousand … Continue reading Unfolding plans 132 – more jobs or fewer jobs
Unfolding Plans 131 – A SOWE
I’ve been thinking about how we create a self-organising work environment. A SOWE. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I saw Sugata Mitra’s work at the first Dynamo conference and that was well over a year and a half ago. How do you get your teams to come together and deliver what is required … Continue reading Unfolding Plans 131 – A SOWE
Unfolding plans 129 – I should have got the train
I should have got the train into Seaham. It’s obvious once I’d thought about it. I was sitting at Nose’s point working on the strategy (see Unfolding plans 124) when a train rumbled past on the line that hugs the coast. It was a two carriage Northern Rail train on its way to Middlesbrough, I … Continue reading Unfolding plans 129 – I should have got the train
Unfolding plans 128 – what holds you back?
Whose unseen hand is it that rests on your shoulder and holds you back? I think it was in the Facebook offices that a sign was hung which asked 'what would you do if you weren't afraid?’ Underneath someone had written 'I would write on this wall'. I like that. It appealed to my somewhat … Continue reading Unfolding plans 128 – what holds you back?
Unfolding plans 124 – Head space
I’m racking my brains. I’m trying to do some work on our ICT Strategy and I just can’t get my head around what needs to be done. It’s not even one year old. It’s the third ICT strategy that I have written since I came to Durham but we made a commitment to review it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 124 – Head space
Unfolding plans 123 – Solutionsim
The hand dryer said fifteen. The numerals flashed in blue and counted down to zero while the hot blasts of air desiccated my hands. I moved them up and down as instructed to make the drying process more effective. There was a handy pictorial guide. Why was there a counter? Can I not work it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 123 – Solutionsim
Unfolding plans 122 – Writing a cheque
Yesterday I cashed a cheque. It was for a very small amount, less than seven pounds. The day before I happened to write a cheque. This time it was for a larger amount. It had a seven in it. I’m letting you know about this because they are such rare events these days. I can … Continue reading Unfolding plans 122 – Writing a cheque
Unfolding plans 121 – never knowingly undersold
Perhaps I undersell myself. If not me then perhaps I have undersold the effect of some of the changes that we are making. I have never knowingly been undersold, until now. I say this because twice I have had to stop and think about some of the things that we are doing and the good, … Continue reading Unfolding plans 121 – never knowingly undersold
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 