The things I learn, as I learn them
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People are not their government
This is something that I’ve relied on for years. As an Australian who lives in the UK, the two governments with which I have the most association have horrendous legacies. Luckily, I’m generally not held accountable for the actions of those governments. Even the recent ones. Those around me tend to judge me based on…
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But are the foundations solid?
As someone who designs collaborative sessions for a living – my primary way of approaching a problem is to think about a way for people to interact with it. I like to think about the mechanics of the situation, its fundamental components and the various ways in which those two things might be combined. I often…
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What it takes to remember
Occasionally life will give us a kick up the arse to remind us what’s important. What’s really important. A proper health scare will do it. A near miss on a busy road will do it. The death of a close friend or family member will also do the trick. They all force us to look…
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Dive! Dive! Dive!
The perfect tool for anyone wanting to test / flex / build their team’s coordination, communication, psychological safety & performance doesn’t cost thousands of pounds or require fancy tech, consultants, coaches, or org psychologists. It takes 45mins and you can pick it up for £20 on eBay. If you haven’t treated yourself to the chaotic…
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A tale of two questions
One of the reasons why people mis-trust politicians is because of how they answer questions. They will often answer the question they had hoped to be asked, rather than the question they actually were asked. This is infuriating for anyone listening as it means the answer is at best, deeply unsatisfying and at worst, a…
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Not everyone is ready for reason
And in any case – reason isn’t always the best way to make a point. Some need a narrative. Some need to see it in action (whatever “it” may be). Some need social proof. Some need time. Some neeed to think it was their idea. Some need cajoling. Some need an incentive. Most need to…
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Test First, Love Later
Don’t wait for an idea to become solid before you give it a crack. Test it early and quickly. Test it while it’s still elastic. Before you’re attached to it. Before you’ve given it a name. You don’t want to become attached to a shit idea, so test it before you fall in love with…
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We can’t die on every beach
On the surface, this is just another “pick your battles” saying, but I like this one the best because it properly speaks to the cost of taking a stand. When we dig our heels in and insist on something, we’re paying a price. We’re burning something – energy, good-will, time, effort, money or bridges. And…
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Bright spots can’t cover black holes
I saw a movie last night called The Creator, and it looks spectacular. The production design, costume, set design and makeup are all amazing. The locations are stunning and its commitment to various dimensions of inclusivity are refreshing. But it’s a movie not a painting, and no matter how beautiful it looks, if the fundamentals…
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Understanding the ecosystem
With enough resource and effort, we can get results under almost any circumstances. We can throw time and money at a process to get it started but we’ll need to constantly intervene to keep it from collapsing. For example, ethics aside, we could keep a fish alive in a martini glass for an extended period…
Got any book recommendations?