Weeknotes: Words
Social Purpose
The average person speaks around 16,000 words in a day. I certainly did my fair share this week.
I engaged in some particularly rewarding conversations this week, that not only felt good but were also productive. We exchanged information, propelled things forward, and brainstormed ideas, proposals, and plans.
The discussions were diverse in topic and a mix of online and in-person. I spoke with:
- Yvette about the requirements for auditing an ICT system
- Clare and Rikki on providing support for the next stage of a digital strategy we had crafted
- Sophie regarding a feasibility assessment for the national database of social housing
- Claire sharing details of the Helsinki Partnership Game
- Waleed on strategies to engage with and sell to individuals involved in social housing data
- Guy and Alan about the content of a digital strategy
- Ian on starting up as a consultant
- James about a website product he had develope
- M, D, A, and S regarding job applications they were pursuing
- Niamh about a role I was applying for
- Suzanne about various topics – it had been a while since we last collaborated. We had both independently moved houses recently, leading to our most animated conversations about maintenance contractors.
Is this what work means nowadays? Does your job involve a significant use of words? Are there any professions that don’t rely on verbal communication? Even footballers appear to spend most of their time making impassioned appeals to referees. Perhaps they should get on-field barristers?
Business Need
Determining how many words people read or write is harder to establish.
I drafted a digital strategy a couple of weeks ago. I wrote in a style that was a bit different to the normal board style of that organisation. It was very upbeat, quite honest in terms of feasibility, and transparent in setting some new standards for achievement.
It was mostly well received. There was some uncomfortableness about how it might be received by some individuals but we talked it through and made some amends.
Only one stakeholder appeared to be less than satisfied. It was an important stakeholder. And the sentiment of their comment was along the lines of “why don’t you just get on with it?”
Too many words…
Data Driven
I received the board member pack in preparation for next week’s governance meeting. It was more than 300 pages long. I’ve now read the pack and made some preparations for the meeting.
There’s a lot of information provided to give me assurance that all is well in the organisation.
There’s a couple of papers about big decisions; borrowing huge sums from banks; rationalising a scheme at the costs of millions of pounds and disrupting tenants’ lives.
It’s not unusual to have to make these decisions but I’m glad these are collective decisions. This is because whilst the papers are well written by experienced people, persuasive and supported by expert professionals, they are still just words on a piece of paper.
Not enough words?
Digital Insights
Now I don’t want to get all philosophical about whether words are important. Epistemology explores how we come to know what we know and the extent to which language influences our understanding of truth and reality.
And workplace conversations are not only beneficial but essential for fostering creativity, productivity, learning, and resilience. Conversations allow for the examination of problems and challenges from multiple angles. By considering a wider range of factors and perspectives, decisions are more likely to be well-rounded and take into account the needs and views of a broader spectrum of stakeholders.
So, three things set me writing this blog in the post digital world.
1. When do the words need to start, and stop? Hence the raging debate about mental health and talking therapies.
2. Can you have the quality of debate and discussion online? Hence to raging debate about physical attendance in the workplace.
3. Are the words that you are reading authentic and true, or at least your truth? Hence the raging debate about social media.
And here you are reading this on social media!
Just more words!
