Week Notes #13 (14 Oct - 20 Oct)
A mistake is only a mistake if we don’t learn from it
Very late writing this. Unfortunately at the end of this week we were hit by a sickness bug. Half term followed and I had intentions of quiet evenings writing and reading, however, we were visiting family and so this didn’t quite materialise. Anyway here goes with a later version of Week Notes!
My Week
A catch up with a member of our Digital Advisory Committee. It’s an amazing group and people give so willingly of their time. It’s fantastic to be able to catch up with the members one to one and hear their perspective in more detail.
A finance update and everything is on track or ahead of track which is great news for this point in the year. Continuing to build the financial awareness and literacy across the department so sharing the financial overview is a key part of building a wider understanding.
A focused session on Programming. As part of our new Artistic Director incoming and the strategic review we’ve undertaken we’re working to improve our programming process, to ensure clarity around decision making and transparency around the criteria used to inform our decisions. It’s great to have an opportunity to look at things from a different perspective and although still a work in progress I’m excited about the new process.
Donors are such a key part of our ecosystem and vital to the work that we do so it was a privilege to be invited to speak to a group of legacy donors about the work we do across Digital and how their support of the organisation is enabling us to reach more people. This was followed by a very different afternoon. Back on location for a shoot, it’s been a long time since I’ve been on set and it was great to be back. Great talent involved and a huge amount of work from the team to pull it off. I can’t say more but keep your eyes peeled in the new year!
I was also invited to participate in a panel event looking at audiences emotional connection to their streaming providers, expertly hosted by Kauser Kanji with Mike Sid and Julie Mitchelmore. It was an interesting panel and important to remember that relationships with platforms, particularly niche and specialist platforms, is not purely transactional for audiences.
Overall it was quite a varied week and busy trying to wrap things up ahead of holiday.
Life Stuff
Parent evening this week. Willow has settled well into her new class and loves learning.
It was House Competitions on the last day of term and she was so proud to support her house and dress head to toe in yellow. Fortunately her house won and so she’s looking forward to celebrating with a no uniform day when she goes back to school.
There were cobwebs in the midst, a lovely autumnal walk back from the school. The seasons are definitely starting to change the leaves are starting to fall and the trees are changing colour. Great to connect with nature and take in the world around me.
Watching / Listening / Reading
📺 Corridors of Power: Should America Police the World? on BBC iPlayer. It’s a hard hitting watch but significantly increasing my knowledge of global politics.
📺 A Very Royal Scandal on Amazon Prime Video. I ended up watching it in sections so probably didn’t get the full effect, however I’d say Scoop on Netflix felt more powerful and interesting.
📺Starting 5 on Netflix. I don’t understand basketball but definitely have a fascination with sports people and what it takes to be at the top of your game. This was a well made documentary and the mix of talent involved really brought you into the subject matter. Interestingly Exec Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
📖What Employers Get Wrong About How People Connect at Work by Khalil Smith, Brigid Lynn and David Rock on Harvard Business Review. An interesting read about the different levels of importance that we place on areas of our role over time and how this can wax and wane over time. Also interesting perceptive on the return to the office policies and how a portfolio of policies could address different needs.
📖How to Learn from Your Mistakes and Make Better Decisions by Cheryl Strauss Einhorn on Harvard Business Review. A reminder to face up to the emotion challenge of the decision, identifying and naming the emotions so it brings the to the fore and enables you to address them more productively.
📖How to Overcome Your (Checks Email) Distraction Habit by Maura Thomas. Our ability to engage in thoughtful work has decreased, as has our desire to actually do it. The ability to build momentum for brain work to have the ability to go deep on a subject requires fewer distractions. A timely reminder that some progress is better than no progress and breaking things down into smaller elements makes them sound fast and easy which is more motivating.
📖Calm Christmas by Beth Kempton. I came across this book last year, however I ended up reading it after Christmas. This year, I’m starting earlier so I can implement the learnings over the upcoming festive period.
📖Ordered Do Interesting: Notice, Collect, Share by Russell Davies. Recommended by Leanne Ford, another week noter on Substack. I look forward to diving into this and reporting back.
I’m sure I did listen to some things but I didn’t make a note of them at the time so they’ll be lost for ever!
Back again next week for more thoughts, reflections and insights.