Just about 20 years ago I headed into the BBC Worldwide offices at Woodlands, the dirty brown office blocks on the wrong side of the A40 for the very last time. I went to my desk in C Block, put down my bag, headed to the loos, locked myself in a cubicle and burst into … Continue reading Weeknote 711 – Yearnote 2024
This week I have learned: there's been so much illness about for the last few weeks. I've felt various levels of crappy for the last fortnight, and many colleagues in many locations have had varying levels of illness over that period too. I can't remember an end of year where I've been looking forward to … Continue reading Weeknote 710: the last fizzle…
This year, as with most years, I've been busy on my Kindle. Here are some of my reading highlights from the past 12 months (books not necessarily from 2024, but purchased and read this year). Fake Heroes: Ten False Icons and How they Altered the Course of History Otto English This is a great book, … Continue reading 2024 Bookshelf
I ran a workshop this week for colleagues from across our consulting organisation. I wanted to find a way to allow people to explore an idea without being too constrained by their own views. I also wanted people to identify tangible actions that they could take away and do.The theme for this workshop was improving … Continue reading Multiple Perspective Futures – a workshop tool
This week I have learned: a different interpretation of thinking about the future that resonated with me massively. Johannes, this week's WB40 guest, talked about how thinking about the future is a hugely useful way to understand what you should do in the present. That chat was then the final piece of the puzzle when … Continue reading Weeknote 709 – futures
This week I have learned: after another successful circumnavigation of the sun, I feel about 64 rather than 54. I've got a sore leg (the result of a "sporting" injury) and a head full of snot. I got to catch up with a former colleague who now works for the Football Association, whose offices are … Continue reading Weeknote 708 – coldy
This week I have learned: You can go from thinking something will stop to completely the opposite in just 5 days. I'm unsure if I could do my job if it weren't for a need to keep people happy. That can be exhausting at times, though. After two weeks on the road, it was nice … Continue reading Weeknote 707 – turn around
On Wednesday, I was part of a team that ran an evening workshop for our emerging executive community in Benelux. We had around 20 CxOs come together to connect, share ideas and build relationships. Our European business unit lead, Simon Bostock, asked me to help create a workshop that would allow people to engage, "work" … Continue reading Field notes: Humans v AI
This week I have learned: You just know when things click. It's been a busy few weeks with keynotes and workshops and they all went pretty well. Lots of things that can be improved, but that's always the case. I've come back to Euan Semple's idea of Trojan Mice again. Smuggling things into organisations and … Continue reading Weeknote 706: workshopping
This week I have learned: about the delight that is Manchester Tech Festival. A very different event to the usual male-dominated nonsense in the industry. A huge range of people, thinking and conversation. that the hard work is worth it. You can't avoid it. If you want to make an impact you do need to … Continue reading Weeknote 705: MTF