Category Archives: Uncategorized

The eight things I learned at the IoIC Festival

A week ago, my colleagues and I were frantically planning how I was going to get to the Institute of Internal Communication’s first Festival. The event took place near Nottingham, and perhaps my first piece of learning was that this is not an easy place to get to on public transport from West Cumbria. AfterContinue reading “The eight things I learned at the IoIC Festival”

Finding a balance

Agile. Hybrid. Connected. Mixed. Whatever you call it, we’re all doing it – working from the office and from home. If you work in a sector like mine, then the move to home working when the pandemic hit might have been sudden and unfamiliar. This, of course, means that the move to agile working isContinue reading “Finding a balance“

Returning to the workplace

If my maths is right, it’s 490 days since I last spent a whole day in the office. That is, working at a desk (or workstation as we now call them), having meetings with colleagues and nipping to the canteen or into town for lunch. Like everyone else, little did I know, as I madeContinue reading “Returning to the workplace”

Getting a buzz from the bus station

My memories of Whitehaven bus station aren’t of the halcyon days. By the time I came to use it, it was for Saturday visits to spend my pocket money in the town centre (pick and mix and singles from Woolworths, and stationery from WH Smiths, for the record). At this point, it was pretty runContinue reading “Getting a buzz from the bus station”

Celebrating success

I passionately believe that your workforce is your most important audience. If you’re planning a project, or are managing an issue, employees should be the first group listed in the audience section of your comms plan. Your employees can be your most powerful advocates. They can also be your fiercest critics. It might seem obvious,Continue reading “Celebrating success”

One year of this – whatever this is

I imagine there will be a whole gang of people dusting off their typewriters, as we mark the first anniversary of the Covid-19 lives we lead. Recording our thoughts, particularly of such an abnormal year, feels important. A year ago today, I started working from home. A pregnant partner meant I was a taking noContinue reading “One year of this – whatever this is”

Meeting mayhem

In recent weeks, my diary started to fill up with meetings again. There was a lull while we were finding our feet and deciding which work needed to continue. But that’s long since ended. People know their days now, and the assumption is that work continues as planned pre-pandemic. And that’s fine. But our livesContinue reading “Meeting mayhem”