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A newbie in the land of confusion

April 6, 2021
Advice, Business, Development, Support
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I am not a rocket scientist, I really am not. This I know very well by now. I am very unlikely to ever be a rocket scientist, just to be clear here, but I am also not that stupid…

Visibility is never 100%, our own limitations are one thing but then there is the shadows caused by moving clouds that mean the sun does not shine everywhere.

As I embark on a new career in the wonderful world of Agile, I have a few hurdles that probably look like hurdles in a great many places of work. Being a newbie is always a challenge, always. It’s kind of like jumping into an epic book but starting half way through.

It really is like this and it doesn’t help that the organisation just doesn’t seem to care all that much. Is it too much to ask to be able to access the information I need to help me gain the required understanding? Probably as these days of employee empowerment, and digital channels being a free for all (it seems). Governance or rules have gone the way of the Dodo, it seems. Everyone is busy busy busy creating content that often it feels like it has no connection to the quagmire elsewhere in the organisation. What is wrong with having some simple rules to follow so that everyone’s content remains relevant, contextual and meaningful? Or maybe the rules do exist but are just too hard to find in a swamp full of opinion and perspectives.

I like empowerment, I love it in fact, it is a really huge and beneficial step forward although I think many organisations are confused by the concept. Empowerment is not about a lack of accountability or responsibility. it’s about allowing and authorising people to make decisions in your organisations where their expertise allows. After all you wouldn’t expect the receptionist to decide to spend a billion of the organisations funds to implement a new process of recruitment. Of course not, I’m clearly being daft. It is just an exaggeration to make a point although it seems that with communication means, this is exactly the kind of error being made.

Confluence pages are made with ease, they feel disposable and irrelevant, but they are visible, accessible and may be believed as representative the organisations values, but do they? Finding accurate and comprehensive information is becoming increasingly difficult when organisations seem reluctant or unwilling to control and maintain any more.

Shifts have been quick, digital content is powerful and really useful, but only when it all connects. Are we in a vacuum of uncertainty, where organisations don’t feel confident to pull back the reigns of empowerment in order to get it working right? Just setting the approved layout of information with a universal understanding of what is required with a process of either peer review or line manager checks might help but it does feel like this goes against the empowerment movement, but checks are not a negative thing, they are a learning and confidence aid. What is wrong with a more experienced member of staff, sharing their knowledge?

So I will continue to wade through the fragmented information to try to gain the insights needed to add value.

Exit strategy, or is it entrance strategy?

June 15, 2020
Advice, Development, From the Archive, Opinion, Support
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I’m out of here!

Twenty five years! Twenty five years where work has been more than just a job. It’s been an experience, that is for damn sure. There have been laughs, tears, a lot of tears, great times, the worst of times. I will leave with memories, some I wish I didn’t many more that I’m glad of. You know, on reflection, it’s been pretty good overall. More than pretty good to be fair.

Life does not stand still for any of us. It constantly shifts, evolves more than we realise. It’s like when I go for a slow jog, I don’t feel like I’m moving very fast (we have got so used to moving quickly), but every once in a while, look back. You move quicker and farther than you realise.

I guess it all comes down to perspectives after all. You should always remember that your own is just your own. Everybody in your life has their own too. Don’t take it for granted that everyone sees yours.

So the exit ramp is coming up and I can’t see what is around the corner. Most people manage to survive the journey though so the odds are pretty good, hey?

One of the most important things I have ever learnt is not to live in fear of the future, it’s a pointless exercise. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow any more than anybody else. Opportunities come and go, people come and go. I guess all you can try to do is be a person that is positive, always trying to better than yesterday and you will have good people around you most of the time. If someone decides they can’t stay, remember that they have their own shit going on.

I write this during a break where I am preparing a big presentation, an ambitious project that I will be sad not to be able to see through to the end, but I stand resolute that it is the right way forward. Sometimes that is all you can do.

I smile now and remember that happiness is always within your grasp, it’s a choice (most of the time). Choose it for yourself…

Thanks for listening.

The search for positive feedback from meetings

June 10, 2020
Advice, Development, Opinion, Support
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Nature around the garden demonstrates efficient symbiosis. The importance of this connection is not visible or understood by everyone, but ignorance has no relation on it’s importance. Photographer: Mark Nesbit

Nature over time has created an effective and efficient interoperability. Without insects, flowers would not be pollinated, fruit would not grow and the future of these species would be in doubt.

In the business world, we need this level of connectivity, or expect it and more often than not assume it. We build teams, plan meetings and activities and pretty much assume that this is all automatically universally understood and absorbed.

Under the Covid19 restrictions, I see people sitting in more and more meetings, all from home, where we are surrounded by distractions (family issues, bored kids, noise, the broken dishwasher, the list never ends), however all those meetings (I had five yesterday) we are expected to maintain 100% focus. The formats are dull, unimaginative and often pointless or even worse, aimless! Then we are expected to act on them. It’s insanity at times.

Connections must be efficient and effective, otherwise they should be cut. This sounds easy, but often not. I have meetings on in the background as I continue to work now as they track the telephone numbers of those dialling in.

At the start of this Covid journey, I got it. A strange situation, people working from home, we needed to keep an eye on each others mental health, make sure everyone was engaged. The perils of isolation were identified early on.

You need an element of trust towards your work force. The flower doesn’t complain or sulk when a bee passes by without stopping. Another bee from the hive has or will pick up the nectar…

I mean that meetings are not the only way to communicate, there are more effective methods for certain things.

If any of your have your own Covid meeting stories, I’d love to hear them.

Do we take teams and teamwork for granted?

June 5, 2020
Development, Macro, Opinion, Support
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Around the garden feel alone and isolated. Photographer: Mark Nesbit, LIMEfotographic / Marking Time Photography

Today I want to talk briefly about teams, their importance and how, often they are taken for granted.

What is a team? Well, put simply it is a group of individuals working to a common goal or objective with synergy. Of course there are many different types of teams, from sports teams to software developing teams, to Infantry sections and Government teams. They all have different objectives and structures but the fundamentals of good team skills are similar.

Well I know we all understand that there are always effective team and some that are, not so much. We have probably all worked on a team that wasn’t working effectively? There can be many reasons for this but most can be addressed. Clearly this article can’t cover the whole subject.

There are some important considerations at a base level though.

  1. What is the common goal / objective and it it really understood by everyone and are they aware of what their part is in achieving it?

It seems so straightforward, but in my experience, this is one of the most common errors. Confusion and lack of clarity will make team members fill in the gaps which often ends up in team members pulling in different directions or simple standing still, not knowing which way to go.

2. Does each member feel part of the team?

Teams should be organic, they grow and evolve, but some times this can be in a negative way. Dysfunction is a form of function that can come from even one team member that feels isolated. Be aware of the team, the unity takes constant effort and attention that can easily be missed in a busy department.

3. Are there consistent and effective methods of communication adopted?

Seeing this written down, it’s a no brainer, however most team leaders believe that their teams have this down. The reality though is much different. As a team leader, can you categorically say that each member of your team has a voice (that is heard), feels safe (to bring up their ideas), feels respected (given credit for their efforts)? The right methods of communication carried out effectively will certainly be a starting point to building a better team.

There are many ways to fix a team and in most cases there are improvements to be made. Teams can go through constant transitions or change and new members can often be expected to find their own way in. Find their own fit. I saw this happen all the time in the military. In my experience this can work but it certainly is not efficient.

Like always, I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

If you like this blog post or any of the others, please click like and share.

George Floyd.

June 2, 2020
Macro, Opinion, Support
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Tears of the grassland. Sometimes the green green grass of home just does not feel so green.

I find myself (as just another white privileged male) thinking about what is going on in the United States of America. With over 60,000 people having died of #Covid19 so far, the riots seem at odds to my United Kingdom. We are told to socially distance and yet there are thousands of people coming together to fight for their beliefs in spite of the risk.

It makes me think. I don’t know how I feel. I am sad that Mr Floyd’s life has ended, of course. I’m sad that it is at the hand of another ‘white’ policeman. I’m partially bemused by the repetitious nature of this incident. It feels like I’ve seen all this before.

The fact is, I have… we all have.

It’s got me thinking about racism, what it actually is. I don’t think we understand it at all. We seem to have this perception that racism is some kind of violent attack (physical or verbal) on someone who ‘looks’ different to ourselves. It’s not. I think it is much more nuanced than that. In most cases it’s much gentler than that. Yes, you heard me, I said that racism can be gentle, passive. Here lies the problem. We make it out to be so easy to remove the scourge of racism from our society, but the fact remains, it remains. It is there, it is not often violent or even identifiable, but it is there.

I don’t think that most people think they are racist, in fact they will often stand up against racism because it’s wrong, right? Of course it is. We can rationalise it and it’s very wrong yet it survives.

I don’t think it’s truly possible to understand racism unless you have been subject to it. I don’t mean being beaten or spat on or verbally abused. I mean simply being treated differently, being looked at in a certain way, being labelled, being pre judged.

Racism isn’t about the violence, that is just a disturbing consequence perpetrated by a minority. It is cultural, it is systemic and it is self perpetuating and lives in a strange situation where our denial to accept that it is more prevalent than we wish to believe, keeps a society from actually dealing with it.

It’s uncomfortable. My knee-jerk reaction is to deny it, even to myself… but am I then simply allowing it to continue?

I offer no solutions. I really don’t know what the solution is, if indeed there really is one to be had. Clearly something has to change but human nature and its insecurities will always get in the way.

By all means comment and give your point of view, I would love to hear from you. In the mean time my thoughts go to the family of George Floyd and those close to him left behind and I say that with the utmost sincerity.

Weddings are serious, but just how do you find your photographer? (a clients guide)

January 7, 2019
Advice, From the Archive, Support, Wedding
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As an experienced photographer, I often take my craft for granted.  I forget that it has taken decades to get to where I am.  I don’t pretend to be the best photographer out there.  The truth is that because photography is subjective (everyone likes different styles, looks, processes), my style will not suit every client.

As a client, you have more power than you ever had in the past.  There are literally thousands of photographers out there, but that does not mean every one will be a good match for you.

Your wedding is important, it will probably be one of the most important days in your life, so it’s in your interest to make sure you get all the details right.

So How do you choose?  Do you know much about photography?  Now, first of all excuse the brazen use of our imagery on this post 😉

Well there are a few things you can do, some of them obvious, and some not so much.

Well the first thing you can do is work on recommendations, your family and friends may have been married recently.  Look at their album, their photographs, do you like them?  That’s a great start… but are they still available for your big day?  The more popular photographers will be booking almost two years in advance, so there is no time to waste…

Talk to your (possible) photographer and meet them, rapport is so important.  You will likely be stressed on the big day, you need to feel comfortable with your photographer.  This is especially important if your photographer is capturing your preparations with your closest friends, do you trust them to be respectful?  You wouldn’t want to feel like some pervert was stalking you in your smalls…

Next, make sure that the person you meet, is actually your photographer..  seems like a little thing but larger firms will have sales people visit you, and your photographer on the day will be a complete stranger.  It does happen… It happened to me… Of course I had no clue back then lol.  Oh and I hated the photographs.

Be realistic about price, if it’s cheap, then there is possibly a reason for that.  The average for a wedding photography package is about £1,500 although these days you can push for an awful lot at that price.  That said, you can get some good deals if you are happy to take a chance.

When you meet your photographer, try to look at one of their recent weddings in full.  You will be surprised how easy it can be to make a slideshow with 20 images that make them look really good.  Some photographers may even use photos that they have taken at training days with professional models and coaching on poses etc.  Don’t be fooled.  If you see a full wedding, although you may not be interested in the photos of Auntie Mable drunk on the dance floor, you will at least get an idea of the consistency of the photographer.  This is the best tip and reduces your risk of hiring someone who fails you.  Oh and it has been known for photographers to buy stock imagery to show themselves off.

Contract. contract, contract.  Make sure you get a contract.  It will help both parties.  You will have it written down what to expect.  Some photographers will make sure you get one, some will be a little more reluctant.  Always ask yourself why…

Make sure the photographer has insurance.  Sometimes the unexpected can happen.  The photographer’s car breaks down and they are 200 miles away… Insurance will help put your mind at rest a little.  Will their insurance come good?  It’s certainly worth asking a few questions…

So now you have read this, hire me… 😉

No, seriously, this is an important subject, one I have been wanting to write for some time.  I hate, literally hate to read about those couples who get duped for their wedding by a photographer who is little more than a conman.  They exist.  All you can do is minimise your chances of falling foul.

So now, you can hire me… 😉

Hooray…

Disclaimer:  No clients were harmed in the making of this post.. If you want to know more, please feel free to message us.