Weeknote 691: scans

This week, I have learned: Some potential health challenges ahead for the older members of the clan. I'm continuing to work through how confronting mortality is increasingly a part of daily life as you age. Reaching the first milestone of a clear content plan for the book project is satisfying. Undoubtedly, though, some actual writing … Continue reading Weeknote 691: scans

10 things I learned at Nudgestock 2024

On Friday I had a very entertaining day at a nightclub. Thankfully, it wasn't an all-dayer (those days, my friends, are well and truly over). It was, however, the self-proclaimed "Biggest Festival of Behavioural Science", Nudgestock. Here are 10 things I learned over the day... Most process optimisation biases towards faster Rory Sutherland kicked off … Continue reading 10 things I learned at Nudgestock 2024

Weeknote 686: Pentium Pro

This week I have learned: The value in remembering the Kirkpatrick Model. What we think about an experience immediately after we have experienced it might not be the same at the longer term impact. I had a conversation this week that really, deeply challenged me. It involved worldview and self-perception, and I'm still trying to … Continue reading Weeknote 686: Pentium Pro

Some futures of work

I spent a fascinating few hours yesterday afternoon as a guest of MS Amlin and Julia Hobsbawm at an event looking at some dimensions of the future of work. Looking out over the skyline of London there were some thought-provoking conversations. Here, in no particular order, are some of the thoughts the discussions sparked for … Continue reading Some futures of work

Weeknote 681: bricks

Things I have learned this week: Lego Serious Play. I spent a good few hours this week on Amale's LSP for Coaching course with a wonderful group of other coaches and facilitators. I have to say I've been a bit sniffy about LSP until now, partly because the book I bought about it was so … Continue reading Weeknote 681: bricks

A lack of imagination

There's a familiar trope that tells us that Science Fiction shapes the future. And while there are things that have been talked about in Science Fiction that have turned into reality (rocket ships, VR, Video Recorders, the Internet...), there is a tonne of stuff that hasn't (teleportation, time travel, hoverboards...). But with the revelations over … Continue reading A lack of imagination

Onboarding in the future

I had a fascinating conversation with Chris Butler earlier in the week. We seem to have a lot in common, not least both knowing the wonderful Nick Drage who pointed us to one another. One of the things Chris and I have been talking about asynchronously since is a thing that he is working on, … Continue reading Onboarding in the future

Augmenting not replacing

This is, I hope, a hopeful story about generative technologies, and it starts by thinking about my drum machine. I say "drum machine" in the singular, but I actually own four and have had a few more over the years. I will focus on a Behringer RD-8, a modern interpretation of the classic 1980s Roland … Continue reading Augmenting not replacing

Bad Social Science

This is not a "thought piece". This is catharsis. I studied social science research methods at University. When I went to University, it was in the very earliest days of the World Wide Web (actual quote from Information Systems lecturer: "I don't think it will be as successful as WAIS or Gopher"). Back in those … Continue reading Bad Social Science

Consulting and ambiguity

For many years, I've referenced a simple continuum that helps to describe the types of consulting that might be provided to a client, from Process consulting to Expert consulting. At the Expert end, the consultant takes ownership of the problem and exerts their expertise; at the process end, the consultants' expertise is helping the client … Continue reading Consulting and ambiguity