Jackie Weaver saves 2021.
by Darren Caveney
This time last year I bet you didn’t have a Zoom account? Had you even heard of the app? I’m not sure I had. I’d certainly never used it.
Well that all changed when Covid hit and now over 13 million of us in the UK have downloaded it.
As with all new platforms, we see good practice and bad practice.
But last night this instant Zoom classic went viral and Twitter exploded with support, humour and no little amazement.
If you’ve not seen the video yet (where have you been?) here’s the link to the 18 minute ‘highlights’ package. The first 5-minutes are unmissable. It’s the Tiger King of Lockdown 3.
For background, it’s a Zoom recording of Handforth Parish Council’s Planning and Community meeting, which took place on 10 December 2020.
It first hit one of my WhatsApp groups on Thursday evening and then I was sucked into the Twitter comments which followed it’s arrival in our lives.
I had to watch it three times last night for full effect: the first to figure out if this was even a real thing, the second to take in the detail, the third purely to tuck in and enjoy. It’s the most I’ve laughed in 2021 so far.
I still love Twitter. There’s nowhere like it for this kind of humour when something like this emerges. It’s still a chamber of fun and creativity at its best. On that, watch this short Spoofed UK film entitled ‘The Political Thriller of the Decade’ (thanks to Andrew Walker for the spot)
Once I had lifted my dropped jaw on the goings on in Handforth four things occurred to me:
1. Bullying
Leaving entertainment aside for a more serious thought, the attempted bullying on show was vile. Jackie rose above it, and booted one member out of the call. But that’s not the point. We’ve probably all experienced bullying in the workplace to some extent. It can come from anywhere. It certainly isn’t limited to those more senior than us, it can come from all angles and even from without our own teams. Bullying is horrible and dangerous and we’ve covered the issue here on comms2point0 before.
2. Good communications always helps
In the face of some unpleasantly barbed comments Jackie remained calm and was able to convey her point clearly. She made it very clear that only bad behaviour would see a councillor being removed from the meeting. And she was as good as her word.
3. Keeping a sense of humour
We all have strengths and weaknesses. I’d say one of my strengths over the years has been retaining a sense of humour even during testing times. But Jackie took this quality to the next level. Asking if she could be referred to as Britney Spears in future was a stroke of officer genius.
4. Mute yourself!
There’s always been a time and a place to keep quiet, but blimey it would be a lesson well learned if the next time there’s a video meeting in Handforth they use the mute function a little more liberally. (although I have to say ‘Julie’s iPads’s’ unrelated incoming phone call - live for all to hear - was comedy gold. Most politely dealt with and so incongruous set within the madness pervading all around it)
Are there any lessons for us?
Well yes, many.
The good people at the Local Government Association recognised last year that there could be a skills gap in some councillors feeling confident in using video platforms for meetings and interviews, so created this handy presentation skills webinar resource for elected members.
And it’s important too to say that the kind of behaviour on view at Handforth in the new internet sensation is very much not the norm. I attended many, many council meetings in my 10-years in local government. I saw some lively meetings but nothing anything like approaching the one I watched last night.
The vast majority of local councillors are in it to do public good. To support the local communities and areas they care for.
As the hackneyed phrase goes, there’s always one, but Jackie Weaver was prepared and took no nonsense.
The fact that she kept her calm so well, and even injected a little humour, is all to her credit.
So, did she have authority?
Good question. Brilliant Brummie lawyer, David Allen Green, has written about it here.
He described Jackie as the “Winston Wolf of Cheshire local government”. Swoon. If only I’d have thought of that line.
2021 in Lockdown UK has been tough…
But Jackie Weaver brought joy to Twitter for 24 hours and found herself on BBC Woman’s Hour the very next day as a result.
She reminds us that the good people will always overcome the bad, in this case shouty, rude men.
Well done, Jackie.
I’m setting a reminder to watch their next meeting live!
Netflix, be very afraid.
Darren Caveney is the creator of comms2point0 and owner of specialist consultancy Creative Communicators Ltd
*Sign up for the comms2point0 eMag*
The comms2point0 eMag features exclusive new content, free give-aways, special offers, first dibs on new events and much, much more.
Sound good? Join over 2.5k other comms people who have subscribed. You can sign up to it right here
