Weeknotes — DDC has lift off!
In the spirit of open working, I’m also doing weeknotes as part of Deloitte Digital Connect (DDC). Allez, allez!
My self-imposed rules to get this done:
- Write on Thursdays (my last day) at 16.40
- Publish on Thursday at 17.00
- Eat biscuits while typing
Good things
After months of design and planning, we launched Deloitte Digital Connect. The kick-off sessions felt good — lots of enthusiasm and positive energy which is way better than apathy, right? We had the majority of llamas feeling good during our check-in and a great group raring to go at the end of the session!
We’re trying to keep one source of truth for all the programme info which keeps growing and growing. Currently Notion platform is doing the job and having used it on previous programme, I’m enjoying the user interface and easy design functionality. Check out the Support Guide MLP (Minimum Loveable Product!) here.
More good stuff: doing some volunteer matchmaking using Airtable and reusing the successful Catalyst Digital Candle model — reuse innit! After a few tech issues, the links are up on the Deloitte Volunteer Board and sign ups are coming in fast.
It’s also really lovely to be working closely with Claire, Jess and Alex from the Deloitte Responsible Business team and be involved again in deep and ambitious cross-sector partnership work. Considering the short time we’ve been working together, we’ve really hit the ground running and I’m really enjoying the ‘let’s get stuff done’ spirit of our collaboration (Jess has even moved next door to mine, by the sea on the South Coast — now there’s team synergy for you!;).
Difficulties
I’m back at work having been off on paternity leave for a month. I miss being downstairs with my baby boy. I’m grateful for having a great job, collaborating with nice people and being able to work from home. But let’s face it, even with a 4-day week, we’ve designed a society which fosters imbalance — it just doesn’t fit! Get a service designer to redesign this mess, please!
It’s been all hands on deck at the CAST HQ while we juggle various new initiatives, bids and governance/strategy discussions. I’m so grateful for all the support from my colleagues as I get up to (some kind of) speed with everything. And there’s so much exciting action-focused plans in the pipeline -watch this space!
Achievements
Getting through 2 weeks of work-newborn/family life feels like enough of a achievement for now. Onwards!
Learned things
Test and learn, test and learn. Embracing the fact that this is the first iteration of a new programme of support for charities!
And I’m also repeating myself the mantra ‘good enough for now, safe enough to try’ from my time back in the Catalyst team. It’s just a sound sociocractic principle which helps me make some decisions and keep making progress. We talked about these vulnerabilities in the first Open Working workshop of the programme, expertly led by my good colleague Joe (el jefe). Great to see such an appetite to share openly and collaboratively from the participants.
I’m learning loads about new tech tools but that’s for another time.
Music to my ears…
This week (and mood) has been powered by the new sounds of Big Thief, Cate Le bon and my Belgian compatriot Stromae. Go check them out! Allez, allez!
