9 Days, 17.5 hours – Diary of a Writing Sprint

9 days, 17.5 hours – Diary of a Writing Sprint

Last week I signed up to test a Writing Sprint through Breakthroughs and Blocks.  While I wavered a little, there was never really any question that I would do after the newsletter appeared in my inbox.

I’d been persuaded by the information on “What you need”, that having a few projects in mind to work on was fine (“it’s OK, I don’t need to be working on a novel”).  Impostor syndrome soon crept in once we were asked to declare our goals for the week.   I’d prepared what for me, was a comparatively short list of writing activities to complete or test but there was no cohesive goal, so what I went for was “write every day, and for at least eight hours in total”.  

Something I recognised early in the week was the likely value in tracking my progress and capturing my thoughts as I went along and this is the result.

The sprint was fortuitously timed as on the Saturday and Sunday preceding the first day on Monday, there were already two writing workshops happening that I was keen to attend offering the perfect, structured “way in”.  I subsequently learned that the week also ended with a 24 hour London Writers’ Salon sprint – a good space to support the final push.

Everyday tools and tricks

While I knew that the light accountability of the sprint was likely to be enough for me to keep going, there were a couple of other things I tried out to help me along the way.

“Grey space” pages

A while back I read about the value of “white space” in the diary to allow for creativity.  I’ve recognised that I personally need a transition phase before the white space begins, or what I call a “grey space” without ever defining what that could look like.  Similarly, I know many people swear by Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages” as a way to open channels for creativity.   Combining the two, I started each of the “proper sprint sessions” (Monday to Sunday) with 10-20 minutes of free writing.  Reading the daily entries back has been really valuable in reflecting on the key learning and takeaways from the week.  I’ve included brief quotes below as they generally captured my mood on the day.

Opening the Zoom Room

Whenever I can, I seek opportunities to write alongside others.  Not only does it help me ensure I show up, but a bit of chat makes the whole thing more fun, and less solitary which is important to me if I’m going to keep something going.  So I committed to not only the grey and white space in my diary, but set up a recurring Zoom meeting and invited both sprinters and not sprinters to join.  As an evening writer, I wasn’t expecting huge uptake and I was right, with a single companion on day one and none the rest of the week.  However, opening the room felt symbolic enough to keep me there, even though I was writing on my own.  The added bonus was that I found the Zoom chat saved each day and as I’d diligently set my intentions in the sessions, I had a rolling record of what I’d been doing as a bonus.

Writing by hand

While I could have saved time and effort going straight to screen, I generally default to pen and paper as my starting point and allowed myself to continue, despite my guilt about the use of paper and the necessity to then type up anything I wanted to keep and use or develop.

Saturday 6th April (3.5 hours)

Uncharacteristically I “broke the rules” and started early (the sprint was due to be Monday to Sunday).  As I mentioned, this was largely a happy coincidence as this would have been a writing weekend regardless of the sprint but I feel it would be worth considering if I do another sprint as I’m sure it would have been much harder to start alone, and on a work day.

There was no “grey space” on this day but during morning Writers’ Hour (WH) I:

• Journaled my weekly reflections as I do every Saturday that I can join WH
• Put together some thoughts on a reflective piece I’d been thinking about on Friday “Writing then and now”, recognising how much more frequently I used to blog myself and propose guest pieces, and considering what has changed.
• Tried to refine the list of things I’d do with the sprint time- despite best efforts at honing the list down, it still had 10 activities, to treat as a “list to choose from” rather than something I’d get hung up on if I didn’t complete them (which I find works much better for me).
• Began to develop a list of “audacious writing goals” – if writing became something much bigger for me, what would that mean in practice?

I then joined one of my favourite regular writing activities, a “Write for Your Life” workshop, with the unexpectedly appropriate topic “Just do it – Get inspiration to start creative projects”.  While key activities on what I wanted to write, and who for, were ones I’d done more than once before, the recurrence of themes must surely be a sign.

I also completed the pre Sprint Survey, setting targets for the week and realising that I didn’t have such a clear goal as most of my fellow sprinters.

Sunday 7th April (1.5 hours)

Again no grey space today but I took part in a “Write from the Art” Workshop with Rosie Carnall which I’d been keen to do since chatting to Rosie on Facilitation Stories.  A great opportunity to be guided through some creative writing and consider the different directions to go from a painting as a starting point.  

Monday 8th April (2 hours)

“I feel a strong and unexpected daunted feeling and a sense of overwhelm” and “I’m feeling guilt and frustration about the things I could and should spend the time on” (Grey Space pages)

Based on some thinking on Sunday and the framing I’ve used previously in a “thinking pair”, I brainstormed what I want people to think, feel or do if they read something I’ve written and then used a WH “Words of Wisdom” quote as a prompt for free writing.

The session was transformative, so my closing thoughts were

“feeling smug and like I just want to sit and write for hours”

Tuesday 9th April(1 hour)

“I feel energised by my day and keen to get started on something but also have a nagging question as to whether what I’m choosing to spend the time on is the right choice.  I’m once more digging deeper into writing about writing rather than just doing it. I don’t know if this is a distraction or an avoidance technique but I feel getting a clearer answer on the whos, whats and whys might help me going forward even if it just aids my approaches to others for help achieving them.” (Grey Space pages)

With this in mind I:

• Captured a list of what I mean when I say I want to write for “people like me”
• Tested an idea for an “inbox challenge” combined with an activity Claire Pearce suggests for developing your writing voice , by taking a newsletter post from my inbox and reading it to look for:

• What I liked and didn’t like about the style
• Ways I could use the post as a springboard for writing something myself 

I was absolutely buzzing at the end, filled with the joy of intentional time devoted to writing but conversely recognising I’d merrily spent many more hours generating ideas and handwritten notes, and was continuing to tell myself that I’d write something to publish “later in the week”.

Wednesday 10th April (1 hour)

“I feel scratchy and distracted today…. I am determined to sustain momentum on the sprint and perhaps this is an important moment.  On any other occasion I’d give up,let the overwhelm take over or just feel I couldn’t decide where to put the attention, that it’s too hard.” (Grey Space pages)

After Tuesday’s reflections, I spent the hour typing up (as a sign of intent to use the week’s earlier scrawls):

• The beginnings of this diary
• The “people like me content”
• The “Think/ Feel/ Do content”

Thursday 11th April (2 hours)

“The adage “marathon not a sprint” is starting to feel relevant.  I’ve hit the familiar wall of mountains of content and ideas and not getting to the ‘finalise and publish’ point.”

To strengthen my resolve, I employed an emerging-favourite tool of dialogue journaling (a written conversation with myself).  After a stern “talking to” I concluded:

“[Sitting and dialoguing with myself for hours] feels more comfortable [than doing any other form of writing] but comfortable is the near enemy for inaction and stalemate.” (Grey Space pages)

And I got down to editing the article I’d decided I must publish this week after which I stated my commitment to publish the post on Friday in the Writing Sprint thread.

Friday 12th April (2 hours)

“It’s that familiar scratchy, resistance, where all of the demons come up and I don’t feel I want to share anything.  … I think the biggest issue here is that I’ve built it up so it no longer feels joyful and exciting…. The idea generation and the vision that somehow it’s the seed of something that might capture someone’s interest is exciting but faced with the reality it might be rubbish or go unnoticed, my enthusiasm wanes.” (Grey space pages)

However, there was no going back and I finalised and published “You don’t need to love writing to write” 

The relieved, elated feeling I’d been hoping for eluded me, prompting some valuable learning about the need to strike a better balance between effort and outcome.

Saturday 13th April (3.5 hours)

“I feel better than yesterday, with a fresh start ahead, and starting to ponder how to maintain some kind of momentum without it being quite as intense as last week.” (Grey Space pages)

Whilst participating in rather less than the full 24 hour odyssey I spent time:

• Doing my usual weekly reflective journaling;
• Fully digging into my reflections and learning from the 7 day sprint;
• Writing out more intentionally the list of things I need help with in writing terms

Sunday 14th April (1 hour)

“Final day and I couldn’t feel less like sitting down to write.   I’m surprised by this as I’ve done nothing all day except gardening and seeing my parents.  But perhaps this is the point, having broken free from my desk, I resent needing to return to do anything that requires focus and structure.”

I was determined not to fall at the final hurdle, however, and following some meandering in the grey space I:

• Reflected on the process as a whole and what could be some next steps
• Sketched out some writing ideas I’ve had during the week with the working titles/ subjects:  The noise versus the hum, Reading in writing projects, Creative Confidence
• Worked a little more on the diary (I’m doing it now!)
• Decided to be kind to myself and hold on to the “been out in the air a lot” sleepy feeling rather than stick at my desk.

Key reflections

First things first, I’m proud that I smashed my 8 hour goal, and managed the full seven days (plus two bonus days!) Overall, I can see what a valuable week this was.  Ironically, I’ve recently completed a very large report-writing exercise but the sprint was the first time I can remember devoting such a significant amount of time, in a compressed period, to writing for myself.  It was fun to experiment with some idea generation activities I’d had in mind but not given myself the opportunity to try.  While I felt there was nothing more I could find from digging deeper into the whys and wherefores of my writing aspirations, and that doing it again was a waste of sprint time, I found there was plenty more to uncover which I hope I can build on from here:.  

I need community but not in the same ways as I expected.  As I described above, I managed to persevere with my daily writing despite being alone, and enjoyed a good chunk of that time too.  

I’d have loved to have more of a connection with fellow sprinters, as cheerleaders and people to bounce ideas off and learn from, potentially helping me to work through some of the more practical blockers that can hold me back.  It would have felt like a more fun and lighthearted experience with a social element.

BUT a key revelation is that, while something I’m yearning for is to become a better writer, and recognise that without some help and feedback, that will be difficult, I feel apprehensive about receiving it.  What if the changes are too hard?  Suggest a lot more work?  Make me feel like I should give up?

Idea overload is something that holds me back and I also fear that if I don’t check myself, in some conditions, I could sit writing and generating ideas for hours.   I get stuck between on the one hand, having so many potential things to write or say that there isn’t time, and on the other,  thinking that within that long list, there is nothing that really stands out or draws my attention more than others.  I’ve realised this is where my “stuckness” often derives from.

Speed and efficiency need to increase. I need to be better and quicker at reading, writing, editing and publishing so that it all feels more manageable, less of a time drain, and frankly more fun and less like doing my homework.  It would also leave me less chance to dither! 

“I’m a writer” is a phrase I want to apply for myself, not necessarily on a professional level, but as a stated, intentional practice which goes beyond writing reports for clients or journaling as a reflective practice.

“Grey space” and evenings both work for me in finding the time and the right frame of mind to write.  

Input for inspiration is something I need more.  Reflecting on a key difference from when I used to write more regularly, it was a time when my life was far different, and I spent a lot more time (partly down to opportunity), attending events, exchanging ideas with others, reading, watching and listening.  Considering writers I admire, I’ve noticed how frequently they draw in ideas they’ve encountered.  So it’s clear that while I’ve often focused on carving out the time to put words on a page, the time absorbing and exploring is equally important.

Mapping, categorising and digging deeper was time well spent.  Despite the concerns I mentioned had emerged on Tuesday.  I now have much greater clarity on both the “North Star” I’m working towards, and how some of the small pieces might contribute.

So what next? 

I’ve concluded I’d definitely do a sprint again and despite my early misgivings, I think I’d do so whether or not I had a more defined writing project to work on.   I can see that the time and space to play with writing activities is alone a sea change compared to my usual practice, and that the longer sessions are necessary to push through some of the discomfort and permission barriers that often get in the way.

There’s a long list of actions, but the abbreviated version, aside from publishing this diary (a “win” in itself) I’m planning to:

• Continue using the “grey space pages” within focused writing time;
• Build on and publish at least two more articles started during the week;
• Redouble my efforts to find writing communities;
• Use the list I developed to seek out some of the help I need to get past some of the barriers and build momentum.

You don’t need to love writing to write

Looking back, I can see that this piece originally started life in around June 2022.   I’ve revisited and refined it several times, and yet it’s stubbornly remained in drafts.   My sense is that the reason is that it feels symbolic and like it ought to contain the “aha” that allows me to conquer my writing demons and progress.  Inevitably, this has added a layer of importance to getting it “right” which a single blog post doesn’t deserve.

However, signing up to a Writing Sprint through the Breakthroughs and Blocks newsletter seemed like a “now or never” moment, for reasons that will become clear below.  If I couldn’t finish and share it this week, when would I?

“You don’t need to love writing to write”.  When an edition of the above newsletter with this title landed in my inbox all that time ago, it felt like a provocation, an invitation to which my immediate reaction was along the lines  “But I do love writing… So why do I find it so hard?”

Rather than opening the newsletter, I decided to dig deeper, questioning “Do I really love writing?  Am I just saying I love writing?  If I do love writing, what do I love about it?”

The act of writing

I initially wrote my response longhand in my notebook.  I don’t need a beautiful pen or special paper, and it’s certainly not an aesthetic masterpiece,  but to feel like I can create and let my mind open, and importantly, to enjoy it, I usually need the physical act of writing by hand.  I find it’s the same with many things: if I’m starting to map something out for work, or want to begin to pull something complex apart, mapping out some thoughts on paper is invariably my starting point, and is what I’ve come to refer to as “thinking on paper”.

Stories

 I’ve always loved stories and was an avid reader and author as a child.  There was constantly an evolving tale in my mind and the chance to do creative writing at school often necessitated staying behind at break or lunch time to finish off my story or poem.  As I’ve got older I feel frustrated that I’ve lost that ability, but like to think (or at least want to believe) that with the right environment and headspace I’d regain it, even if in a slightly different way. Since writing this piece originally, I’ve begun regularly enjoying creative writing workshops, all of which are framed as fun and exploratory,  rather than focusing perfecting the craft and I can see a shift from “I can’t do it any more “ to the occasional “wow, where did that come from”?

That said, as an adult I gravitate towards real world stories too.   Innovation and creativity in others, and their reflections on their experiences holds a fascination and I’m sure is one of the most profound ways I can build empathy and stretch and test my thinking.  I’ve also been able to acknowledge, through preparation for, and participation in this writing sprint, that some of my most “audacious” writing aspirations revolve around this.

Getting in the flow

I’ve often been fascinated by the concept of the flow state, primarily as I’ve felt it has eluded me and always would, but when it comes to free-writing, I can see that’s rarely the case.  When I let the writing flow, it’s easy.  True enough, it’s generally a stream of consciousness, but I’m  pretty certain when I read it back, it will make sense and be honest and authentic, even if I acknowledge a degree of self-censorship. Of course, this leads to a dilemma when it comes to wanting to create something more meaningful and shareable, but that’s perhaps part of the journey.  

The love of words 

This is one I find harder to articulate.   I’ve a list of “words that I love” – generally for their sound of construction or sometimes their meaning. Eccentric?  Perhaps, but there’s also something more profound about what they symbolise.  Fellow Facilitator Kevin Watson also recognised this in his podcast “The Words That Matter”  a simple premise where guests can talked about words that matter to them. Words formed a  doorway into people’s stories, showing how as a hook, they could allow guests to share what they though and illustrate what was important to them.

So there it is.  Do I love writing?  There seems to be ample evidence that there’s a grain of truth to my initial reaction.  Have I read what Bec and Chris wanted to say on the subject in Breakthroughs and Blocks?  Not yet….

About a blog

Well, I can hardly believe it, but looking back, I started this blog ten years ago and despite multiple gaps and periods of Writer’s Block, I’ve somehow published 85 posts here and a number of guest ones too.  As efforts in the last year or so reveal, I’ve been struggling to rebuild a regular habit but the intention has remained consistent, despite other blockers, and it feels like an apt moment to take a look back at the story so far, reflect on where I am now and what I’ve discovered recently, and what might be next.

So, where and why did it begin? 

I can’t remember the exact moment in time, but in 2012 I’d left my full-time permanent job as a bit of a test. I never returned, and that’s fuel for an entirely different series of posts,( some of which are already half written). What’s relevant here is that I was fortunate to be given a place on what was called the “World of Difference” programme that Vodafone ran annually for a few years. Again, a topic for another time, but within that we were encouraged to capture our experiences in blog form.

At the time, the concept of blogging was really taking off and having stepped out of the safe confines of a solid job, I was investing a good deal of time in trying to learn, and deepen my knowledge of the charity and social enterprise sector where I’d already been working for most of my career to date. Blogs became a key source of reading matter and the Vodafone experience got me thinking “maybe I could do this for myself”.   I was also conscious of the need to digitally upskill and with early portfolio careering (as it was called in those days) being something of a slow burn for me,, I had the time to test whether I could do the “technical bit” of setting up the blog nd add an extra string to my bow. 

But what could I write about? 

It needed to be something that would have regular content ideas, as the main objective was to give it a try, rather than as a marketing tool or something directly linked to work.  Importantly, I I also recognized that if it felt like too much work required too much research, or the content felt too samey, there was absolutely zero chance of me sticking to it. 

What did I love? What could I feel sufficiently expert in not to feel a fraud? 

The answer was clear.  Learning.  The thing I’d begun to acknowledge through stepping into the unknown territory of self-employment, is one of my main drivers, that inspires and enriches me within and outside work.   Handily the maxim “you learn something new every day” was an apt reminder that there’d be no shortage of content. 

What about my other love: ideas? 

I’ve always got something bubbling away and even more at the time when I’d felt some of the constraints of employment had been lifted and I felt unleashed to explore what felt interesting and could be impactful.. My explorations also made me realize that ideas go nowhere if they’re not shared and that even putting some of them on a blog where nobody read them, was better than remaining completely hidden.

So “Open Ears, Bright Ideas” the concept was born.  

I’d initially remembered moving from decision to action as a fairly rapid process. However, looking back on my very first entry, there is a frustrating and uncanny familiarity.   Clearly it was something I found daunting and had lapsed into “dither mode”. Making the first post felt like a big deal, which seems laughable now that it’s ancient history in the enormity of the digital realm. 

Things started well. I disciplined myself with a near daily habit and developed a few idea series to keep me on track. But inevitably, by setting myself such a rigorous target, things began to slide. I remained disappointed with myself that this had happened, but also alert to the fact as I tried to navigate a new employment status, and recognised that maybe I was becoming a “consultant” and a “business owner”, my attention was drawn to other things. It also became a difficult time for me personally, and I couldn’t summon the motivation or the confidence to keep pursuing it.

The nag never went away though, and by 2017 I decided to act. Cue another flurry of activity and a decision that consistency of content and form was so important that hiding all of the original posts from years ago from public view was the way forward. Thankfully, I didn’t delete them.

Once again, I persisted for a while, but other things took over.  A repeated mistake was taking on board too much “how to write a great blog post” advice from content marketing sources. Only since joining the Upfront Bond in 2021, really digging into my “whys” in terms of writing, and the permission blockers that had eroded my ability to do anything, did I realize that writing expert content purely as a marketing tool just isn’t what I want to do. While I’ve only recently begun to truly be able to articulate this why, I’ve realized that for me it’s much more a celebration of reflective practice (another great love) and learning out loud, a way to capture, record and shape ideas and a chance to revisit the passion for creative writing I had as a child.   I’ve also realised it mirrors the kind of content I enjoy reading from others.

So it’s now 2023 and it’s been another year of grappling with what I’ve now realized is “publishing block” rather than “writer’s block”.  I recognise that I write often, and that as long as I give myself permission, (never easy), once I intentionally sit down to write, I rarely have difficulty putting words on the page. Sometimes they’re drivel, but I’m surprised by how often there’s something, at least a seed of something, that I find interesting.

Perhaps the most significant of these is an “epiphany entry” I wrote earlier in the year, which began to crystallise the purpose which I’ve realised is important – it’s more than writing purely for the sake of it, but there needs to be scope for experimentation and play too.  

Revisiting that piece and implementing an idea adapted from Claire Pearce’s “prompt prescription”, turning prompt generated ideas into a shareable form, are something I want to pursue. 

I’m also keen to revisit some of the posts from the blog’s earlier days as from a very brief glimpse. I’m tickled by what I’ve read, and in many ways, how little has changed in all of that time.

It’s the clear reminder I need of why recording and sharing could have such value. The bits I’ve shared obviously the censored version, but also the more concise snapshots that I’ve, for some reason, felt important.

Most importantly of all, I need to be kinder to myself.  I can see that much of my inaction with writing is that I’ve allowed myself to overthink what is the “right thing” to share leading to a laborious process of editing which takes away all spontaneity and much of the joy, and makes this a “task”.  So, here’s to gaps, wobbles and permission to publish, or not publish for the next 10 years and beyond!

A quick footnote on the name

It’s derived from a quote from the film “The First Grader”, which was one of those that hits you just at the right moment.  “Learning never stops until you have soil in your ears.” A side note here is that having shared this recently in a “Write for your Life” session, it became clear that for others it has somewhat chilling connotations. But not so for me.

Flipping the concept, I felt this idea of continually listening to the World, and the lifelong learning experience  neatly captured the long term writing habit I was committing to. 

As for Bright Ideas, that comes from a quote somewhat closer to home with my long suffering mum’s facetious response to my “World to Rights” ramblings “well, you’re full of bright ideas” !

Should you always use a facilitator in Action Learning?

A while back I asked on Twitter and LinkedIn what questions about Action Learning (AL) readers had.  One of Ann Nkune’s responses was  “Should you always use a facilitator?”.  As a facilitator myself, it’s tough to answer objectively, but certainly one I have a few thoughts upon.

What do we mean by “facilitator”?

First of all, definitions are important here.  I’d describe the facilitator as the person who supports the AL set through a “Presentation Round” and in which case, I’d say the simple answer is yes.  For me this is one of the things that marks AL out from an open dialogue or a peer learning conversation.  Having someone who is sitting in the role of facilitator rather than “Presenter” or “set member”,  to move the group through the different aspects of the Presentation and keep an extra eye on the needs of the Presenter and set members.

Going External

My assumption is that Ann’s question was really about whether an external facilitator is always needed.  On this point I’d say again, there is a simple answer, “No”, not always, but I believe there are definitely times when it is beneficial.

Amongst the many AL facilitators I know, I suspect there are few who would anticipate, or even feel it’s good practice to facilitate the same group for a prolonged period.  Moreover I believe most would hope that a group will, at some point, feel confident to self-facilitate (where members of the group take the facilitator role rather than bringing in someone external), although for some of the reasons below, they may still choose to do so.

Context and experience is also a factor. People can join an AL set for many reasons – it might be something they’ve sought out, be integral to a programme which they’ve enrolled upon, or something their employer has asked them to take part in.  Sets may also bring together people with past experience of AL alongside those who’ve barely heard of it, and those with allied skills such as coaching, with people who have had little previous opportunity to explore reflective practice.

So what can make it worthwhile to have an external facilitator?

Focus on participation, not process

It’s true that there are resources available online that explain the process and how to “do” AL, but “having a go” and learning by doing, is generally a good way to experience it.  Having a facilitator to talk through the basics and then build in other layers while the group practices is often an effective way to do this. AL is most effective when based on deep and attentive listening and asking open, exploratory questions.  For me, and I’m sure others, both are skills that take time to build and will always need refinement, yet they can be some of the most valuable personal developments from AL.  As a group finds its feet, having a facilitator to focus on process allows complete attention on one another and on developing these capabilities.

Observation and intervention

AL’s not complex, but it’s challenging.  For many of us, some of the key aspects of AL go counter to how we normally work and behave day to day.  In a hectic, task- orientated World, where reaching solutions rapidly is often the order of the day, slowing down, reflecting, leaving space for silence and offering questions not advice aren’t the norm.  An external facilitator can work with a group to move to a place where this comes more naturally through observation and encouragement of these AL skills.  In the early days this can often rely on intervention which I continue to find uncomfortable as a facilitator, and is much harder for a group still becoming accustomed to working together in this way.

Building Trust

There’s no doubt that the efforts and behaviour of the set members themselves are crucial to this, but an external facilitator’s designated status can give license to surface tensions in a way that may feel at odds to group members navigating this new way of working, and potentially getting to know one another.  Where needed an external facilitator could support the group to work through challenging dynamics and build trust and respect along the way..

Learning not logistics

This depends on the circumstances in which a set has formed but for any situation where it has been brought together by an external “commissioner”  there will be a degree of liaison.   It would be feasible for a set to nominate one within the group to do this, but this may have its own impact on the group dynamics and/ or leave that person with an unwanted added responsibility for the group.

Managing the admin

One of the things that often leads to the demise of a set is unfortunately, the simple task of diarisation.  My view is that regular and full attendance of set members, subject to extenuating circumstances, is central to the set working well for all members and yet I know from experience, finding several hours that all can commit to on a semi-regular basis is far more challenging than one might anticipate.  A facilitator charged with this responsibility again means that the set members can focus on the learning and not on making it happen!

Not getting too cosy

I’d be the first to admit I don’t always practice what I preach on this one. This series of AL posts has largely been triggered by the opportunity that introducing some new groups to AL has provided to reflect on my facilitation practice and notice where this has gone a bit “fuzzy around the edges”. As a set member, I enjoy the familiarity of a certain way of engaging in the process but at its best AL can allow for the unexpected. This can come from adjusting the process or experimenting with something new and an external facilitator is likely to have a few ideas in the toolbox to try.

So, as with most things Action Learning-related, there’s no right, wrong or simple answer to this.  Over time, ideally, the facilitator role becomes less “visible” and takes a lighter touch as the process becomes more familiar and the group becomes more accustomed to working together.  Commonly a group may work with an external facilitator for an initial series of meetings, and review at the end of the period,.  Alternatively they may start out with a direct intention to transition to self-facilitation at the end of a certain period, with the external facilitator engaged to support with this move.    What’s most important is to set expectations and to “contract” accordingly both in terms of engaging a facilitator and to ensure a shared understanding between group members of the commitment and intention.  

“Who’ll get the air time?” – Using “Bidding Rounds” in Action Learning

I’ve been reflecting on the use of “Bidding Rounds” to select who will present in an Action Learning (AL) meeting.  It was the method introduced to me in my training, the one we always tend to use within my own Action Learning group and within the Action Learning for Facilitators Community of Practice.  In other words it’s ingrained in my facilitation and participation practice but isn’t an aspect I’ve considered critically before.  

It’s often a relatively short exercise and not one I recall specifically arising in a process review (when the group reflects at the end of the session on how they worked together), and yet it sets the tone for the majority of the session and as I’ve explored below, could have a fundamental impact on the experience of individual set members.

 I’m often amazed how well it works as a process as, in my experience, there is no real science behind it.  It’s a process of light-touch negotiation which I believe succeeds primarily on the basis of the trust and reciprocity embedded in a well-functioning set.   Having worked recently with some new groups, it continues to be one of my favourite working examples of the “magic” of Action Learning.

But reflecting more deeply on this and some of my own early experiences I wonder if this is a part of the process that as a facilitator I could pay more attention to and if there are risks of which I could be more mindful.

How does a Bidding Round work?

A small caveat here is that part of the reason for my exploration is that I’m accustomed to a certain approach but I’m aware that this may not be the only or best way to do it.  Also, in my view in the ideal world, all members of the group would have the opportunity to present in every session and the bidding round would then form more of an introduction and a way of deciding the order of presentations.

From the outset “bidding round” feels like a misnomer; it’s not intended to be competitive but is founded on the mutual support embedded in Action Learning and the belief that even when not presenting their own opportunity or challenges, other members of the set can benefit.  

When I’m facilitating, the format is usually:

• Each member of the group (in no particular order) completes the sentence“If I were to present today it would be on…”
• Commonly we might “grade” an issue – how pressing does it feel? Perhaps on a scale of 1-10, how useful would it be for you to have the space today?

The way that this plays out is obviously dependent on the day but in a group of 6 could come out as:

• 6 issues, all urgent
• 6 issues, none urgent
• 2 very similar issues

It’s generally a mix of these.

Following this we’d normally have an open discussion, having heard each other’s proposals, and come to a decision.  Until recently I’ve worked on the basis of a roughly even split of the time available (usually 2-3 presentations) and decided all of the presentations upfront, but recently have been testing choosing just one and revisiting the Bidding Round after that, acknowledging that group members’ thinking can evolve over the course of time together.

What might I need to be mindful of when facilitating?

Managing dominance

Whilst as a facilitator I know it’s to support a group to develop healthy dynamics and manage dominance, in a bidding round there is a strong sense that those who are loudest and best able to articulate their issue may be the ones who are more persuasive and compelling.  While I  can try to create a balanced space, if ultimately I allow the group to decide together there are limits to my influence in this situation.

“Solution mode”

By hearing the outline details of an issue, I wonder if our natural tendency as set members to shift to “solution mode” is triggered from the outset.  Even unconsciously, might we promote those issues where we feel we have something useful to add by way of “fixing” the situation?  In other scenarios, this may be useful, but with AL’s intention to support the presenter to find their own course of action, there should be no need for fellow Set Members to have their own ideas of the best way forward.  In fact, I’m fairly sure I’m able to perform the set member role better if I have no real knowledge or experience of the situation, as there is far less temptation to advise.

“Familiarity”

Similarly, might we gravitate to what feels familiar?  In some senses this is no bad thing, as I’ve mentioned above, I’ve often found the most value from supporting someone else,.  This may be on an issue I’ve grappled with and may still need to work through, even if it would not have been my selected issue on the day.    This may be more relevant in some sets than others but could end up favouring those with most in common or whose context is most easily understood.

Contextual importance versus individual importance

I strongly recall instances practising with others on my course during my training.  It came at a challenging time for me personally and professionally, and as I developed my facilitation capability I was also grateful for the opportunity to be both a set member and to participate as a presenter.

One of my fellow learners worked regularly with young people at risk and would bring matters with a strong sense of urgency and which I felt had added weight due to the nature of the issues.  Mine felt less “worthy” of exploration and yet, to me, they were important.  Reflecting on how I felt at the time, I needed to be able to ask for space but felt that the bidding round format sometimes prevented me.

So what’s the alternative?

With all of the above in mind I’ve been pondering alternative methods.   Inevitably, while some might address some of the downsides of the Bidding Round quite well, but one of my biggest question marks is whether trying too hard to “manage away” some of these downsides might eat into the very essence of what makes Action Learning special.

Urgency First

Deconstructing the Bidding Round I described, perhaps this could purely begin with each set member sharing the urgency of their issue, without providing details.  Those who have the most urgent issues could then progress with the “if I were to present today” format to give an outline of the issue.  While there may still be a need to collaboratively make a choice, this would give weight to the personal importance of an issue, rather than the set members’ perceived value of the content itself.

Pick from a hat

Each member could either outline their issue, or purely their name and would then present at random.  For a very early stage group where there is still a degree of discomfort, this could be beneficial and is a quick way into the AL process, reducing the time to negotiate in the bidding round but risks:

• Putting people on the spot; 
• Giving space to someone who has nothing they particularly feel like exploring whilst another with a more time bound challenge or opportunity misses out; 
• Devaluing the role of the Bidding Round as a way of building the reciprocity inherent in AL 

“Speed Action Learning”

Dividing time so that each set member has an equal, but likely short space of time to explore their issue.  This echoes my “ideal World” option and is one I’ve enjoyed trying but allowing the time to dig deeper and be truly “held” by others in the group is one of the opportunities that sets AL apart in my experience.

Scheduling in advance 

Creating a calendar of slots allowing each set member their “place in the hot seat” over a series of sessions.  This would certainly address most of the challenges I’ve listed, but would ultimately leave a session devoid of the spontaneity and “here and now” relevance that the Bidding Round offers.

Ideas in advance

Set Members submitting an issue in advance, and potentially voting before the meeting.  This might be beneficial for those who are quieter or find articulating an issue more challenging, but a better workaround might be for them to pre-prepare in the hour or so before the meeting.  As with any of the options involving too much structure and deciding in advance, I recoil from this option as it doesn’t feel true to the supportive and timely nature of AL. 

As I said at the start, the Bidding Round is always the method I use, and while there are other options, perhaps despite its potential pitfalls it’s the truest to Action Learning’s responsive and flexible approach, and has a distinct role in building valuable skills of negotiation and being comfortable asking for space and taking it when offered.

My “4D” – co-delivering a session at “Facilitate 2023”

As a team member and sometimes host of the “Facilitation Stories” podcast, one thing I love is the opportunity it gives me to have conversations with people about topics that inspire and motivate them, offering a way to share their learning more widely and get some new insights myself!

Ann Nkune, someone I’ve known for close to 10 years but have only recently reconnected with, made a post on LinkedIn a while back that caught my eye.  She said she was “Falling back in love with Appreciative Inquiry” and was looking for other facilitators working with the technique.  A chat and a podcast later and emails began to circulate from the IAF England and Wales chapter for proposals to host sessions at “Facilitate 2023”, the Annual Conference (I wrote about my takeaways in my last post).

I had a few ideas bubbling but recognised it would be much more fun to co-design and deliver with someone else.  This would always be my preference and with no budget constraints to grapple with, it seemed a golden opportunity.  

While enthusiastic about Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and having adopted appreciative approaches for a while, it’s not a technique in which I have much practical experience but Ann’s description of using it intrigued me.  I swallowed my impostor syndrome, proposed a joint session, Ann said “yes” and our fate was sealed….

Our workshop was called “4D Facilitation – a  multi-dimensional exploration of Appreciative Inquiry”, a play on the “4Ds” (Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny) that form the basis of the AI framework, alongside four dimensions of learning we hoped participants would experience (recognising high points from their facilitation journey so far, creating a vision for their facilitation future, getting a rapid intro or refresher on the AI process and sharing ideas of how to use it in practice). We aimed to accommodate both facilitators with limited knowledge and experience of AI, and those who were more familiar but wanted to experience it as a participant or benefit from the space to reflect. 

Beyond having a deep-dive into the AI process I’ve since reflected on 4 Dimensions of my own learning:

Working together is always more fun!

Firstly, this was a fabulous opportunity to co-design a session with Ann, with few parameters aside from our decision to use an adapted version of the AI framework.  We’ve worked together a few times recently but only in processes led by others.

It was a joy to do, and while there’s no doubt Ann was the one with the relevant experience of the technique, I felt we were able to stretch each others’ ideas and that Ann welcomed my contributions despite my novice status, confirming for me that future opportunities to collaborate is something I’d like to focus on, as well as cementing my love of co-facilitation.

Provide the tools and people create

While I consider myself a creative thinker, I’d be the first to admit that I hesitate to bring creative and playful tools into my facilitation.  In this instance in the “Dream” section of the AI process we invited the group to use whatever medium that drew them, offering playdough and picture cards, as well as pen and paper, the former proving particularly popular. It was an apt reminder that for the most part, participants welcome the opportunity to throw aside formality and be given permission to play and that my creative abilities are somewhat irrelevant in this context, with my role being to frame a question that begins an exploration, the group will do the rest.

Stretching AI – so many possibilities 

We finished the session opening up to a full group discussion on how fellow facilitators were already using AI or could see themselves putting it into practice, capturing ideas on other tools it could be combined with and key considerations for implementation.

Members of the group highlighted the importance of senior leadership buy-in and commitment to both the initial inquiry and the follow up action, and also the ability to recognise that AI isn’t always right for the situation, particularly where there is significant conflict or constraints that need to be surfaced.

Hearing their ideas and reflecting afterwards stimulated my own thoughts on how it could be used including:

• Within Action Learning process reviews.  Action Learning is a practice I’ve been involved in for almost a decade and I always aim to close a session with a Process Review but framing it well, and varying the format is probably still one of the key areas I’d like to work on.  A compressed form of Appreciative Inquiry could definitely work well.
• Combining AI with Liberating Structures.  While we didn’t have much time at the conference to explore combining AI with other facilitation tools, the “neatness” of Liberating Structures make them ideal companions.  Beyond the Appreciative Interviews LS, Drawing Together, Triz, Min Specs and Ecocycle Planning sprang immediately to mind.
• Using AI to follow a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis.  During the session, one participant reflected on a time when SWOT felt more appropriate than AI due to contextual challenges.  There was a clear logic to this but I could also envisage a way to use AI as a next step, reflecting on proud moments that could endorse the strengths, and build confidence to address weaknesses and threats whilst dreaming, designing and working towards a destiny of grasping the opportunities.

Session design – the apparently simple bits are still hard to get right!

As a facilitator, running a session at the conference is both a great opportunity to share new ideas but to critically reflect on the process itself, without the layers of additional content and outputs that can follow in a client context.  In this session, while we’d planned it carefully, I felt some of the key learning for me was essentially a reaffirmation of three points that feel obvious but are perhaps also a reflection of readjusting to facilitating “in the room”:

• Clear instructions.  In a room of facilitators, I was certainly keen not to patronise but was aware that a couple of times, there were questions from the room as activities started that suggested we could have been clearer,Instructions clear
• Allowing “time and a half” – particularly in an exploratory session.  The irony here was that Ann and I had originally requested an hour long slot so when we were given an hour and a half the initial reaction was “how can we fill it”.  Let’s just say it was fortunate that we were before lunchbreak!
• Distributing resources in a room.  Definitely one that’s less relevant on Zoom but I realised at one point that we needed to have been more “hands on” about handing out post-its and pens as they hadn’t reached the far edges of the circle!

With all of this in mind, my enthusiasm extended way beyond the session and both Ann and I have had encouraging conversations about others keen to participate in something similar.  There’s nothing immediately planned but it definitely feels like an exciting piece of work in progress…

Being Together at “Facilitate 2023”

A few Sundays ago I sat at my desk with bleary eyes and a sore head.  The result of a heavy night?  Not quite… Rather the result of leaving home at 5.20am on Saturday, and returning around 15 hours later buzzing and unable to switch off!  I’d spent the day at “Facilitate 2023”, designed and delivered by, and for the facilitators and friends of the IAF England and Wales chapter, and I was attempting to capture some of my reflections with a view to writing them up knowing that I had a busy couple of weeks on the horizon.  And here I am,…

For me, it was the first opportunity to join “Conference” in person since 2018, the first time co-facilitating a session there (entitled “4D Facilitation” alongside Ann Nkune – I’ll write about “My 4D” separately).  Most significantly this was the first time I’d met a number of people who I feel I’ve got to know over the past couple of years virtually.

Beyond the learning takeaways for learning and ideas for further exploration, what I’ve retained first and foremost was the feeling.  I noted on one of the feedback boards that the highlight was “Being together” – and several weeks hence, it’s that, that remains.   I felt like I was among friends, joining up in a spirit of supportive exploration and community.   It had been a gruelling couple of months workwise, with multiple setbacks and challenges, so the injection of positive energy was never more needed.  

As expected this was also a rich learning experience, and I’ve attempted to capture the standouts below:

“Imagine the people involved are doing their absolute best… how does that change your approach?”

Spoilt for choice as usual, I opted for my first session of the day somewhat on a whim, keen to see a facilitator I didn’t know in action.   The session, led by Hayley Watts focused on “getting unstuck” and gave me a welcome, unexpected opportunity to explore and generate some further ideas on something  I’d been grappling with, being the issue of securing commitment to Action Learning.   The “powerful questions” that we used let me dig deeper into the issue, but the reframing within this final question was a revelation and one I’ve held in mind ever since.  While for some in the room, in the scenario they’d brought to the room,  this was a sign that “the best wasn’t good enough”, for me this generated a feeling of acceptance.  It allowed me to reconsider that while there may be more that I can do, there are many factors outside my, and the participants’ control that might override any commitments that they might make to each other, and to the process.

Commitment and Action Learning – 

That said, there are still some key takeaways and it’s clear that the issue of commitment is ripe for more thought both in terms of why I place such importance on commitment, and how to ensure sufficient space is given upfront to intentionally explore it with a new group.

Chat GPT, FOMO and Ethics

I’ve yet to experiment with using Chat GPT.  I was on the brink until I saw this article which has put me in a dilemma balancing ethics with the acceptance that Chat GPT and its ilk are here to stay.  A brief introduction in a session on Facilitation and Technology opened this up further, giving insights into how facilitators are using this software to enable them to work more efficiently, to sense check their ideas and to “outsource” time-consuming but non value-adding tasks.

Later discussions in the break also suggested scope for facilitators to work together in considering our role in supporting dialogue and exploration around the role of Artificial Intelligence and its ethical implications.  I remain somewhat in limboland around where I go with it for my own use but it’s ever clearer that resistance is likely to be futile, so even from a personal perspective, spaces to develop my thinking and work through these dilemmas would be a welcome opportunity to enable a more informed approach.

Lived Experience

One of the sessions that had the most profound impact on me from last year’s conference focused on Lived Experience, leaving me with a question I’ve been mulling over and refining my thinking upon ever since.  “Where does my personal lived experience “sit” within or alongside my role as facilitator?”.  A conversation this year reiterated the importance of a continued focus on understanding what this means for me.

Together (Tools) again?

Recently I’ve been increasingly aware of the hole that my former regular days in London have left.  At one time, I became a fiend for “Meetups”, immersing myself in a host of learning opportunities and later extending to running my own.  With “Together Tools” (a regular topic for this blog at one time), I aimed to create a safe space for people to “build their toolboxes” around methods for bringing people together and working with groups (particularly for those who didn’t consider themselves “facilitators” which I didn’t up to that point).  Practicalities saw the end of the Meetup at the time but I’m increasingly feeling a pull to revive it, perhaps focusing more on the reflective and deliberative practices that now represent the majority of my facilitation, and about which I get most excited!

Of course, there was much more learning to be had and developments since but these key learning have cropped up repeatedly since and as I’ve noticed an upsurge lately in requests for in person work suggesting that many people are also recognising the simple but powerful impact of “Being Together”.

Action Learning: My Growing Appreciation for taking the “Set Member” role

In Action Learning I invariably appreciate the opportunity to air an issue or opportunity and be supported by fellow Set Members to explore it.  While I’ve always been conscious that Action Learning has multiple benefits to all those in a Set, earlier in my “journey” the Set Member (not presenting or facilitating) role felt very much like being the “supporting cast”, important, but secondary.  But, over time my appreciation of the value of taking this role (not presenting or facilitating), has continued to grow.

There are certainly skills to be gained in this position.  In particular, it requires deep listening and the ability to form clear, open questions but I often also feel energised and motivated after a session where I’ve purely acted as a Set Member, able to progress with things I’ve been stuck with, or procrastinating over.  I’ve been reflecting on the reasons why this could be:

Getting “out of my own head”

While I love to spend reflective time, at the less positive end of the same spectrum, I can become distracted by internal chatter.  The outward focus required of me as a Set Member helps to quash it.  I can’t say it’s foolproof, but personally, it works much better than meditation and mindfulness where I’m much more likely to drift.  The time away from things I’ve been mulling over, means I often return to them feeling refreshed and able to apply a new, positive lens.

Steps forward not solutions

Working as I often do, on short-term projects, aiming to move forward a stalled or “important not urgent” activity there’s often a valid expectation that I will propose what comes next and that defined and measurable progress will be made relatively rapidly.  Generally I love this pace and solution focus, but Action Learning’s approach to seeking iterative and developmental next steps is a pertinent reminder of the alternatives. Particularly at a personal level, where the end goal isn’t always clear, breaking things down and taking an experimental approach can be the best way to make progress.   

My thoughts, their words

This has perhaps been the most surprising discovery.  I’m often amazed when a Presenter with an issue apparently unrelated to mine, unexpectedly articulates a concept I’ve been struggling to give words to, giving me a new way to frame something I have been grappling with for weeks.

Just being present

My natural inclination in many situations is to step into organising and coordinating mode whereas as a Set Member, being present, and responding to what emerges is a core principle. I find this opportunity to shift mindset and perspective both grounding and restorative. 

Feeling Mutuality

Working alongside others in a supportive environment towards our own learning is for me, one of the most special elements of Action Learning and something I benefit from equally as a Set Member and Presenter.

We have the power

Action Learning’s recognition of our inbuilt, but often underestimated ability to find our own way forward reinforces my faith in my own agency in the face of “knotty issues” and I can see that in turn it has built my resilience.  Having participated in Action Learning regularly over a number of years,  there are now occasions where when feeling lost, I’m able to put myself in my Action Learning Chair and think “what would I be asked in an Action Learning Set?”.  My answers can (sometimes!) help me to break down an issue, adopt an experimental mindset and get moving!

If you’ve participated in Action Learning, and particularly if you’re relatively new to the practice, it would be great to hear about your experiences of taking the Set Member role.  What have you learned?  What could a facilitator or other Set Members do to make this more valuable to you?  

No soggy pages but plenty of thinking matter from a lunchtime “Read in the Bath”

During a chat last week with Nicola Lynch about the Sustainable Development Goals and social value measurement frameworks, she happened to mention an upcoming event “Reading in the Bath with Adrian and Nicola”.  My curiosity got the better of me, particularly as the Adrian in question was Adrian Ashton meaning it was likely to be a session with an eccentric framing, that would leave me thinking.  

So, having barely read the event outline I found myself joining, from my desk chair I hasten to add, which was exactly where everybody else appeared to be too – not a bath in sight.  As anticipated, my takeaways have evolved since, and this is my attempt to capture some of them.

The session’s full title was “Reading in the Bath with Nicola and Adrian – How do we understand the impact of a book?” and what transpired was an exploratory conversation on how to identify the impact of writing, from books to blogs.  As such this was particularly pertinent to my extensive recent reflections around the motivations and fears about writing that have been preventing me from both finishing and publishing much written content for several years.

When answering a question on how to identify writing’s impact, my initial reaction was somewhat predictable, perhaps partially due to being on a webinar hosted by Social Value UK (SVUK).  I suggested looking for responses to written content on social media, particularly those where people had commented on changes they’d made as a result of reading i.e. a highly intentional attempt to record and measure impact.  

However, I was quickly unsatisfied with this answer, realising that I was looking at one end of a spectrum of intended and potential impacts.   It led to the far more fundamental question of why do we need to understand the impact?  Or in what circumstances?  With my conversation with Nicola fresh in mind this tapped into SVUK’s principle 4 “Only include what is material” or in other words, only look to understand and measure the impact if it might change a decision.  In the context of writing, this might include a “why bother at all?” question, which takes me back to my own recent reflections.

The simple answer to this question is that I think we intrinsically know that writing has power – “the pen is mightier than the sword” as the quote says, and there’s no doubt, for example, of the power of the press to shift opinion, or even change the narrative.  But when considering writing impact, I began to think of it through several lenses, each of which would require a different style and approach:

“Type of impact”

I’m sure there are many ways to break this down but key categories that came up for me were:

• Personal impact – the impact it has on the writer, perhaps for therapeutic benefits, as a creative outlet or to be heard.
• Emotional Impact – inspiring someone to feel and building understanding.  As Empathy Lab succinctly expresses it “Read stories. Build empathy. Create a better world”.
• Practical Impact – writing specifically to inspire and persuade, to bring about a change in behaviour or policy.  I was recently involved in a session introducing a “Democracy Messaging Guide” – with exactly this intention.  As this tweet says “To build a better politics, we need more public support to drive forward change, and to win support, we need to frame our arguments in a compelling and impactful way”. 

Directness of Impact

And what about the directness of impact? Often the impact of writing is to plant the seed of an idea to get people to think or to raise awareness?  But as with the practical impact example above, it could come with an intention to directly persuade readers to act in a certain way.

Breadth and Depth of Impact

The question of impact also called to mind my reflections on the Upfront Global Bond where the importance of writing is an area of focus. Something that has stuck with me is the premise that by sharing your work, if it makes a difference to at least one reader then they are your audience, and it’s been worthwhile.  Depending on the circumstances, it’s highly likely this wouldn’t be a measurable effect, but for me it’s another answer to the “why bother at all?” question, although I’d qualify it by saying that to justify the time and effort, in this case finding a deeper personal benefit of some kind is also important.  However, it’s perhaps a useful counter to the idea so often promulgated that size of following and number of engagements are the most important measures.  

Duration/ Longevity of Impact

This theme emerged particularly strongly in the session, which I took to represent the role of writing as a record.  As a former History student, my preference was always to study relatively recent social history, including looking at contemporary, non academic sources such as poetry, literature and lyrics.  So for me, it goes without saying that capturing thoughts and feelings in writing has a value, creating a snapshot of a moment in time from the perspective of the writer. Gathering a range of examples can give a powerful sense of the mood of a time which can support monitoring a trajectory of change over many years, or allow later reflection on the impact of a series of events, with valuable learning potential.

It put me in mind of an idea I had probably in late 2020, to go back and read blogs and short news pieces from early that year, pre lockdown but with “this thing called COVID” becoming ever more present in our consciousness.  Certainly in the early stages of lockdown,I had a strong sense that I was living through a seismic period of history that would be studied by future generations.  That day to day commentary will surely provide an illuminating lens on the shifting moods at the time and the dawning realisation of what was to come.

Who’d have thought that a lunchtime bath could lead to so much thinking matter? And not a soggy book in sight – I must try it more often…

Testing tools for Personal Accountability

Looking back pre March 2020, while in theory I was based at home, I was always out of the house.  If not working at client premises, I’d find a cafe, library, anywhere so that I could be around people as I found I fed off their energy and stayed on task much better with a general hum of voices, keyboards tapping, coffee machines whirring…. So to say that lockdown was a seismic shock to the system, and cause for extreme unease would be an understatement.  Suddenly it was me and my dog, stuck in the house 24/7, but I surprised myself with how quickly I adapted and recognised how much better I felt with a rather less frenetic pace.

However, like most people, I’d assumed it was a temporary hiatus and I could forgive myself for dips in productivity.  In addition, I threw myself into an unsustainably large number of voluntary projects to give me a positive distraction from what was going on.  Since then, I’ve hit the ten year mark with Resourcefully and the general situation, plus undertaking the Upfront Global Bond have given much pause for reflection and looking ahead consciously to what’s to come next.

A few weeks ago I realised, or at least more clearly acknowledged, that there was an accountability and productivity gap in how I have been working.  While  I pride myself on always meeting or exceeding client deadlines, moving forward with personal tasks and, more importantly, those that are important to my business has been a challenge.

Digging deeper there are many layers to why this is, but as with the “blogger’s block” I’ve been experiencing, I recognise the nagging feeling that this creates becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, draining me of the motivation to get going and making me more inclined to push these important but not urgent activities to one side and focus on those things where there is a clear external driver.  In recent months, I’ve tried various techniques, including time blocking but found that while this is a statement of intent,  I’ve struggled to sustain it.

It reached the point where I felt the need for hivemind help and surfaced the dilemma in a post on LinkedIn.  As so often happens for me, the act of sharing made a difference on its own.  I realised as I began to receive some responses that I knew largely what I’d been looking for, and some of the places I could find it.  While a return to my previous racing around is, for now, out of the question, the benefits of working alongside others have been lacking for some time.

I’d been somewhat sceptical as to whether virtual working with strangers would cut the mustard although these doubts seem somewhat foolish given the virtual World I often now inhabit.  I’ve written before about a workshop with Bec Evans who had spoken about Writer’s Hour and I decided now was the time to test the water. I was worried about Impostor Syndrome but it’s been a great experience and one I grasped with both hands, perhaps a little too enthusiastically.  After a couple of weeks attending multiple sessions, I began to realise that the link between how I was spending the time, and writing, was becoming increasingly tangential.  Although I resisted the temptation to work, I was interspersing writing with reading and learning activities. While not a problem in itself, it was cheapening my resolve to carve out dedicated writing time.

So as well as following Emma Cragg’s LinkedIn recommendation of joining some Freelancer Magazine Virtual Coworking, last week I became a fully paid up subscriber to Focusmate.  It’s been a fantastic investment of only $5.  With the fixed working time, and the mere thought of my “mate” on the other side of the camera, time has raced by, moving me rapidly forward with a host of tasks that would probably have taken twice as long otherwise, and giving me the impetus to start breaking down some some long term to-dos alongside client work.

An unexpected bonus has been snatching a few moments at the beginning and end of sessions with my “match” which has been fun and far less awkward than I anticipated.  Of course, these are all people of like mind who’ve joined a community to support each other – just the kind of activity I gravitate towards, so this shouldn’t have been a surprise.  

I’ve found I’m rarely paired with someone in the UK, linking up with buddies in the US, Canada, Australia, India and Paris so far, and even having a little chat in French which I hope to repeat.    My co-workers have been students of law, finance, linear algebra and AI; I’ve worked alongside a digital artist, someone writing references, someone designing a wellbeing course and while I’ve spent 25 minutes at my computer, others have cleaned the kitchen or done their morning exercise.

In the meantime, I’ve designed some governance learning plans and workshop outlines, prepared for a meeting, written a proposal, caught up with admin and blitzed my inbox.  Not only is this time but has helped break through the sense of brainfog and overwhelm that I realise has been clouding my perspective for a while.

So today I’ve started again with gusto, and as I look ahead to the week, I’m already planning how I’ll use my focus slots to accelerate a content review project, catch up on some admin and progress with developing content for my website.  

I’m also looking forward to meeting some fellow co-workers and hearing how they’ll be using the time as well as encouraging friends to join me for some sessions. There’s definitely a degree of novelty value and a likely peak in usage as other activities have slowed significantly over August but seeing the number of sessions my fellow Focusmates have clocked up, it has an enduring appeal so it might be a tool I continue to use, although perhaps as another I met today said, with ebbs and flows depending on other commitments.

For me, I see this as all part of experimenting with new shapes and patterns of work and life as I recognise that the COVID induced limbo has to end, even whilst recognising that I’m unlikely ever to be feel as fixed on forward planning as I did before.

And what do you know? I drafted this post last night in Writer’s Hour and am finishing in this evening’s session.  So if you’re reading this and feeling stuck, I’d say plug away, try something even if you don’t feel like it – the very fact of doing something may be all you need to start breaking through some blockers.