This week I have learned:
- if you raise concerns constructively, they might get heard.
- over the coming weeks, there’s going to be a bit of a focus switch. I’m in need of it. I’m looking forward to it.
- I do like it when I bring a good team together. It’s a bit of gut, a bit of perseverence and a bit of luck.
- Back in my L&D consulting days there was a model that looked at what drove people’s self-esteem. I still use it regularly.
- I also am a big fan of the Morten Hansen model for describing systemic blockers to collaboration.
- models like this give not answers, but a framework in which to observe and think. I use models all the time.
- parenting teenagers is hard. An interesting observation from someone in conversation this week: the play up and push boundaries with parents when they trust parents. If they don’t play up and push boundaries, you should be worried. This knowledge doesn’t, however, make parenting teenagers any easier.
- we are about to enter a period of not having an office whilst ours our refurbished. I’m not looking forward to not having a place to bump into others for the next 3 months.
- round one of mum’s 80th celebrations – a lunch in Suffolk. Round 2 will be a trip to Venice next weekend.
The week in media:
Listened:
A group of friends has set up a Spotify playlist with songs we like added to it. It’s great.
Read:
Continuing to read Union Jack. The underlying symbolism of the Saint’s Crosses is really quite disturbing. I’m also thinking increasingly about the violent iconography of the cruxifix which is a bit odd for a religion that describes itself as peaceful.
Watched:
Having done the full Rolling Stone 500 greatest albums, I’m now embarking on the NY Times 100 greatest films of the 21st Century. First up was Superbad, which was extremely rude, extremely silly and jolly good fun.
Next week:
Venice (after a week of new things).
The week in photos:
mmitII 