5 things I learned at GovCamp Cymru 2022

Last Friday, I attended my first ever GovCamp Cymru, alongside Joe who helped facilitate the event. Basis was one of the event sponsors, along with other big names in the Welsh Public Sector such as the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS), Perago and dxw.

The day was a huge success, with over 100 attendees, lots of contributors and valuable conversations. I thought I’d share a taste of what went on, in 5 things I learned at GovCamp Cymru 2022:

1. ‘Unconferences’ can work really well — It was my first time being part of an ‘unconference’. For those (who like me) have never heard of it, it’s participant-driven and anyone who wants to initiate a discussion on a topic can claim a time and a space. It led to a much more energetic, creative and collaborative experience than other more traditional conferences and events.
2. Managing a team and being in a senior leadership role is difficult — this was the first discussion I was a part of, and was really eye-opening. It gave me more empathy for leaders, who need to balance managing a team and all the challenges that come with that such as emotional load, pressure, last-minute priorities; with alsotrying to make time to think strategically about the direction of the organisation. The discussion led to some useful suggestions like reverse mentoring, time boxing, and the importance of being helpful (not always being nice).
3. Being more introverted in a workplace can be hard — one of the sessions I enjoyed the most was a session where we discussed experiences and ways of supporting people who are more introverted. I’vebeen thinking recently that sometimes the workplace can feel more suited for extroverted people e.g. in meetings — there’s pressure to speak up, say the right thing, and those who tend to listen more than talk can be seen as not contributing. I feel privileged at Basis as our meetings are often structured in a more inclusive way so that everyone has a chance to contribute (by using techniques such as liberating structures). But I know it’s often not the case elsewhere, which can lead to difficulties as often only the loudest voices are heard. It was nice to share experiences and discuss the benefits that introversion can bring, and I left the session feeling validated and empowered!
4. In person fatigue is also a real phenomenon — you’ve probably heard of virtual fatigue, with people wary of daily screen time or too many Zoom calls. What struck me by the end of a day full of interaction, was how much energy it took. You can’t mute yourself or turn your camera off in an in-person event, or easily have a break to yourself. There are benefits and downsides to both online and in-person events, and although it was lovely meeting new people and collaborating in person, I was definitely ready for some post-event chill time by the end of it!
5. Having great facilitators really helps an event — Joe and the other facilitators were so admirable in their ability to engage the audience with good humour and fun. So many people after the event mentioned how great they were. This made me reflect on the importance of having talented facilitators, and how they’re such a key part in bringing an event to life.

If you’d like to chat to me more about any of this, or discuss how Basis can help facilitate an in-person or online event- get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.