In keeping with today’s adopted persona, I am suitably behind the curve on trying out Twitter.
We’ll, I’ve signed up and had a bit of a faff with it, I’ll now set my subconscious on thinking of internal comms applications for it.
I was very interested to see how organisations are using it - particularly Downing St.
…channelling Harriet Schulenberg from the Green Wing.
Whereas usually I try to channel Sue White, obviously….
If you haven’t yet given to our ultra-marathon competitors in training then empty your pockets into www.justgiving.com/warwickwombles immediately!
On the 19-20 July 2008, 4 individuals of questionable sanity will be taking part in the Trailwalker event organised by Oxfam and the Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment. The event consists of teams of four walking 100 kilometres (62 miles) in less than 30 hours along the South Downs Way.
In order to ease the pain (at least psychologically) we’re trying to raise a minimum of £2000 for Oxfam and The Gurkha Welfare Trust. We’ll have a support crew on the ground to help deal with blisters and any sense-of-humour-failures, but we desperately need sponsorship from good people like you in order to make this endeavour worthwhile.
Money raised during Trailwalker goes to Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) to fund their work tackling poverty and suffering: giving hope of a better, more secure future to people and their communities. While Oxfam works all over the world, GWT works specifically in Gurkha communities in Nepal.
Trailwalker is the largest ultra-marathon in the UK (the equivalent of two and a half marathons and an ascent of Ben Nevis - all in one go) and it is really going to hurt! We’re hoping that as a result of our physical efforts and the generosity of our sponsors, the event will assist communities to achieve a self-sufficient and safe environment in which to live.
All proceeds/profits will be donated to Oxfam.
Stolen from Ellie’s blog: http://ellielovell.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/im-a-leader/
I am a supervisor.
The four aspects that make up this personality type are:
Supervisors like to make plans, organise people and get things done efficiently. They are natural administrators who dislike chaos and strive to bring order to every aspect of their lives. Supervisors like jobs where the goals are clearly defined and there are proven work methods in place.
Supervisors use logic to solve problems and believe in being open and direct in their communications with others. They prefer to work and socialise with like-minded people.
In situations where they can’t use their talents or are unappreciated, Supervisors may reject the opinions of others and insist they are right. Under extreme stress, Supervisors may feel cut off from the people around them and lose confidence in their own ability to cope.
Because they like to take charge and organise activities, others may find Supervisors too bossy.
Supervisors are often drawn to jobs in management or administration that require logical planning.
What is the boundary between a healthy self-help culture and an organisational silo?
And, where do you go next when your central/corporate advice has been politely but flatly refused?
A degree of self-help is healthy in any organisation - but guerilla activity of varying quality can create an uncoordinated messy communications environment with clogged channels.
And this can make even your perfectly-managed and manicured corporate channels uneffective.
So, in my book, before you get to your funky all singing and dancing web 2.0 portals and pull-only information, a bit of pruning and air traffic control is needed.
My solution. An Internal Communications Network. Let’s break down those barriers and encourage guided self-help along prescribed channels.
So, what does any Internal Communications Network offer?
And what’s in in for the Comms Manager?
My final top tips is to keep it informal, relaxed is best - you’re more likely to get undefensive honesty rather than party line backwatching.
So, the inaugural lunch of the IC Network at this organisation is next Thursday…
I was quite looking forward to Pushing Up Daisies - there was a lot of advance publicity and it looked fun.
I watched the first episode aired on UK terrestrial on Saturday night and was very disappointed. It seemed to me to be a commercialised rip-off of Amelie.
And where Amelie, and even to a certain extent Ally McBeal and My Name is Earl were fresh and natural, this seems confined and forced into a parody of the paradigm.
Even down to the omniscient narrator telling us how many years, days, hours and minutes ago things happened….
La vie n’est que l’interminable répétition d’une représentation qui n’aura jamais lieu.
Writing about:
The last is particularly valuable at it explains AI in action in a given context.
‘Making it Happen used the application of appreciative inquiry in a complexe employee consultation exercise called “Just Imagine”.’
Basically a large series of conversations seeking to solicit ideas for change from staff. For this it sounds like an effective methodology. “A way of asking questions building from a base of positivity.”
So, in essence, a giant suggestions scheme based on the concept that your staff know best what needs to change and how.
I’m all for a practical application!
Not a million miles away from Warwick’s Future (an extended and polished version of): Keep reading →
“A failure establishes only this, that our determination to succeed was not strong enough.”
Christian Nestell Bovée
But it’s OK - because determination is one of my strong suits!
Having proved to be an abysmal failure at Guitar Hero round T&Ns recently, I have placed an order for a copy. I was devastated because I really wanted to be good at it.
Practice will make perfect.
Notes from Gurkha briefing at Oxfam House.
Over 2000 people taking part.
I like to start any given activity with a few basic lists. It helps me to feel in control!
So here is my master-list for Trailwalker so far - it will eventually be divided up into shorter more managable lists!
