On my consultancy and training travels around the UK I get to learn so much from other people. And so, I thought I would begin sharing some of it more regularly via the somewhat obvious blog post title of ’Things I learned this week’ 😊
I hope you like volume 13
by Darren Caveney
1. Why passion, knowledge and knowing your audience will always win through
I bought myself a new house in June and I’m now I’ve lived in it for a while I’m really getting into the makeover phase. It’s Victorian, which is my favourite period, but it needs a little more originality putting back into it.
I found a guy – Richard – who specialises in Victorian fireplaces but knows so much about the period in general. His passion for what he does shone through so much when we chatted in his shop come workshop. Not one of those rushed experiences but instead really showing genuine interest in what I wanted to do and then sharing his knowledge and thoughts about sourcing the right fixtures and fittings for that specific house and period. Cool.
Added to that he then also has the skills to fit the fireplaces, and pretty much any other related job. So yes, I bought a fireplace from him – he was able to tell me the year it was made and even which neighbouring Birmingham street it had come out of. Amazing knowledge and provenance.
Anyway, I was working from home one day this week and I get a call from Richard to say he is passing and did I want to see a couple of Victorian cast iron column radiators he had just picked up. Well you know my answer. So, he showed them to me and explained where they had come from, what needed to be done to restore them and even the correct finish they should have. He knows his products and his audience (me) so well.
My learning?
Knowledge, skill, passion, knowing your audience – get all that right and you’ve cracked most things in life, never mind comms.
2. Flying high without PowerPoint
Something I do a lot of for organisations is Supercharged Social Media training. I love it. And I do a version specifically for elected members. I’ve visited three councils in the past fortnight and I learn so much from these elected members who work on the front line of our communities.
I’ve often joked that I would like to run the sessions without a slide deck at all. Nothing.
Well on Wednesday I had the chance to do just that as the town hall I was at had a tech fail and the slides couldn’t be shown.
Time to stand up and deliver against what I thought I could do. Gulp.
My learning?
Did it work? Well I think so - we had a great conversation and talked through the opportunities, the challenges, governance and good practice.
But to know for sure I’ll see what the feedback sheets say.
3. That amazing new eMag I mentioned
You may have spotted that you haven’t yet received it. I’ve failed you. I’m sorry – forgive me?
In my shabby defence I have been incredibly busy delivering training, work, support and consultancy for lots of people. Then there was Comms Unplugged. Then the UnAwards launch happened. Yeah, yeah yeah. Everyone’s busy, Darren.
Two things…
It’s coming out really soon so if you haven’t signed up for it make sure you do.
AND it’s going to include what I think is a really, really helpful new free give-away. Exclusive to eMag subscribers. Developed by communicators for communicators. I think you’ll like it.
Subscribers will also receive exclusive content that you won’t find anywhere else.
Oh, and it won’t peddle endless training workshops, week, after week, after week, after week…
But you will get first dibs on new events, opportunities, networks and much, much more.
Sound good? You can sign up to it right here.
My learning?
Ask for help when you’re silly busy.
Darren Caveney is creator of comms2point0 and owner of creative communicators ltd
