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 15
by Darren Caveney
1. Creative thinking time – it works for EVERYONE
One of the highlights of any working week for me is a bit of a downtime to chew the comms fat - over a good coffee - with talented people from the industry. Today was one such day when I met my pal, Alan Oram, from Alive with Ideas.
Alan is one of life’s naturally creative people. Whenever we meet we always seem to end up on the subject of the creative process and how to give yourself the time and space to let good ideas thrive.
Anyways, it got to lunchtime and so we decided to drop into my favourite Brum restaurant, the rather epic, Indian Streatery. Now the Indian Streatery launched a new ‘paneer fries’ dish back in January and if you’ve ever visited them you’ll now that this new dish was a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. But it was only launched as a trial for January to assess customer feedback and sales. Well I was flapping about not being able to get in and test them out before they potentially disappeared off the menu for good. I take my food seriously, you see. If I tell you that I even DMd owner, Dhiraj, to check how sales have been going you get an idea how serious!
So anyway we drop in for lunch and Dhiraj was joking about my messaging over said paneer fries.
But here’s the thing. Dhiraj works some serious hours running the restaurant but he said that he took a well-earned week off at Christmas and in the downtime he got thinking about plans for 2020, and began having new ideas about fresh additions for the menu. Hello, paneer fries.
My learning?
Whether you’re running a comms campaign or a busy restaurant we all need proper downtime and thinking space - away from the battle - in order to give our creativity a chance to shine.
The paneer fries don’t feature on the lunch menu – boo hoo - so I shall be heading back soon for the evening menu (and if you’re ever in Brum I strongly recommend you do too)
2. Perfect Podcasts
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love Dorset. It’s become a kind of unofficial second home. So when the chance came to run an in-house version of the new Powered-up Podcasts workshop with Mr Adrian Stirrup Esq I was there in a flash.
This was the fourth time we’ve run the workshop now and each time I listen to Adrian talk about podcasts, their growth, their potential, and their unique offer, I see more and more opportunities for us communicators to use them as an additional tool in the comms toolbox.
Working with top comms pros from three Dorset-based organisations the conversation seemed to come around to staff engagement opportunities over and over again. But other areas too – how about a podcast or audio clip for new students to welcome them to the county, to give advice on registering to vote, for checking out the top rated and cleanest restaurants, or for registering with a local GP. For visitors to Bournemouth’s famous air show. Or for tourists heading to the county’s many glorious beaches and other visitor attractions each year.
Of course, it’s not a medium which will reach everyone but then nothing is. The time does feel ripe to try them and innovate a little, though. If you’re doing some interesting work with podcast I’d love to hear about it.
My learning?
I love a stat and so here are some of the latest for you in relation to podcasts…
- The age group which consume most podcasts is 35 – 54
- The phrase podcast was first used in 2004 in a Guardian article
- The most popular activity for listening to podcasts is commuting
And the absolute killer stat relating to podcasts which really should shape their use?
90.90.96
If you know what that means shout me for a prize. If you don’t know you’ll have to come along to a workshop to find out.
3. Wow those tickets flew
UnAwards Winners Masterclass tickets were are the hot comms item this week, with the first ticket release being snapped up in under 90 seconds.
But don’t worry – there will be a second release on Thursday 12 March at 12 noon. Please don’t hang around if you want to be there - be poised as the clock strikes 12.
It’s free to attend and there will be 11 UnAwards winners lifting the lid on their lessons, insights and successes.
It’s my favourite free learning day of the year so try and get there.
More here.
My learning?
Well simply that there is still a huge demand in the public sector for high quality, free learning events and a chance to hear straight from the horse’s mouth on how a great piece of work was developed and delivered.
Big thanks to the people who make this possible for me to host: Official Masterclass partner, the Local Government Association, and official sponsors; Granicus, CAN Digital, Ineo Digital, Alive with Ideas and Perago Wales. I love you all.
Darren Caveney is creator of comms2point0 and owner of creative communicators ltd
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image by Georgia Turner
