Communities Take Action

I’m just returning from latest Coaching & Mentoring “research day” run by Sheffield Hallam Business School (SHU). For those of you who don’t know, the round trip to Sheffield from my home in Norfolk is over 7 hours by train. Not something I undertake lightly but these “research days” are worth every minute!

The train journeys also give me time to work & blog... 

The value of the Unconference format 

Run with an OpenSpace format by the Coaching & Mentoring faculty at SHU these “research days” might also be described as quarterly unconferences.

I’m a big fan of the unconference format but I believe there’s always a risk that they won’t produce any tangible community action. There may be lots of great individual learning, connecting and discussion but leading to what? 

Assuaging my unconference fears was last months’ first #LDConnect Unconference (#ldcu). This has generated some great thinking which has continued and developed after the event and is in my opinion building towards real action. 

Today’s “research day” went one further. 

Community Action 

In one session, a very lively group of us explored the dynamics around Coach Supervision and the expanding number of coaches becoming Coach Supervisors. 

On the one hand there was appreciation for the role of Supervision as part of our development & professional practice. On the other hand, the rapid growth of income generating Supervision with a focus on coaches and not mentors felt like a big warning signal. 

After some great discussion a vision for the future was loosely developed. I won’t go into too much detail here & now as it’s going to be developed into a co-created article for the Industry magazine “Coaching at Work”... 

A positioning paper from a group of professional coaches/mentors & academics to challenge the status quo. To share our collective thinking on how the industry could adopt a more suitable approach to developing professional practice. 

Now that is what I call action! 

Simply Special

Was this group special? Yes and no...

We developed this thinking collectively around an area of common interest. We saw something wasn’t quite right but we were keen to develop our understanding through open dialogue. We came to a joint conclusion on what could be done to constructively (not destructively) create a better future. We decided to take action - collectively. 

It was that simple and for that it is also a bit special. 

What you going to do?

I know we’ve not completed our journey yet. We’ve not yet shifted the thinking of the industry let alone the professional bodies. But we’re going to try in a constructive & collaborative manner. 

We could all do similar - something simple, something special.

So why don’t we just do it?

Shwopping Learning

Walking to the L&D Connect Unconference at @LBiLondon this week I passed the above installation being erected against the walls of the Truman Brewery. The walls of the building are being covered in used clothing to mark the start of Oxfam's Shwopping Campaign in partnership with M&S.

The brisk wind was lifting the garments, giving a sense of natural order and belonging to the chaos of clothes. Beyond the message of recycling & valuing old clothes the experience of walking under the clothes was quite beautiful.

The concrete building behind the clothes probably once looked "new and shiny" but this didn't last. Now it is full of life, colour & texture. The 90 degree corner of the building, absent in our natural landscape, is now only hinted at. The natural elements and our ignored resources only now bringing the building to life.

It's funny how often joy & learning is to be found when we journey past our common expectations of order, uniformity and the immovable and experience the unexpected.

L&D Connect Unconference
As is often the way, the experience of the Shwopping Campaign installation was a foretelling of what was to come at the L&D Connect Unconference (#ldcu).

We are diverse. Largely through social media, an amazing & diverse group of professionals from across the UK to connect and discuss aspects of Learning & Development. The discussion was rich and great connections were made.

We don't need to follow convention. The Unconference format broke from the traditions of the corporate world and allowed the community to form and direct itself. The simplicity of the format allowed participants to look at things differently but collectively.

We are resourceful. We didn't need "new & shiny" additional resources - just our energy & willingness to share & create. It allowed us to look at things differently whilst still valuing much of the order and structure that already exists.

With a little imagination, effort & the right stimulus, communities can lead change and have a great impact.  When it happens it's quite beautiful!

Blog Links

You might also like to explore these links relating to the L&D Connect Unconference :

Sukh Pabial, aka @naturalgrump, wrote this about the First LnDConnect Unconference.

@MartinCouzins also captured on video delegates reactions and takeaways and and has previously written about the Conference vs Unconference format.

Ian Pettigrew, @KingfisherCoach, provided us with this great Storify of the day.

@StellaCollins shared this from Jeff Hurt on Old Conference Education Memes. 

@niallgavinuk wrote this Sharing my Learning from my First Unconference.

Cliqmunities

Some things make you react. @naturalgrump recently wrote about this here. Before you read any further please do take a read through his post above as it’s very relevant for what comes next!

A Twitter Reaction
This morning’s twitter stream soon filled with the CIPD 2011 Social Media conference.  I’d forgotten exactly what was on the agenda so I skipped over to the CIPD website for a look.  Looking at the details, what I hadn’t appreciated was the price....  tickets were £550 for members or £600 for non-members.

I’m a pretty tolerant soul and being typically Libran I’m usually quite good at seeing both sides of an argument.  However, the old amygdala kicked in big time when I saw the price.  Now to be clear, this is not a case of amygdala hijack!  However, for some reason, this is making me react...

Is this some reaction to the CIPD?  

No – I’m not anti-CIPD.  In fact their embracing of social media and engagement with the community seems to be a positive thing.

Is this jealousy?  Do I wish I was there?

No – I already made the decision about what was most important and existing diary commitments won.  I can catch up on what I missed through social media and friends.

Is the scheduled agenda the issue?

No - I have no particular views on it but knowing who’s involved I’m sure it will be excellent.

Deja Vu

The above don’t seem to hold any answers but my sense is that my reaction was in some way connected to recent blogs on conferences:

@onatrainagain wrote here about the prohibitive cost of conference attendance for certain sectors or those with restricted financial circumstances.

@robjones_tring wrote in quite a different vein about the conference experience here.   In fact I think he was talking about revolutionising the conference experience.

@neilmorrison also wrote here about conference attendance and value, remarking that something is going to have to change...

What is really going on here?

Well I think possibly a few things but they centre about these observations...

1. The cost of the conference today is prohibitive for some if not many.  I understand the argument about affordability being our own judgement.  However, in such times, when we price events at such levels we are effectively excluding people.
2. In the past year I’ve attended conferences, unconferences, events and research days.  The ones that have created the most value for me are those where there is content, challenge and community in abundance.  Not exclusivity.
3. There seems to be a correlation between community value and price paid.  Where community engagement is high and is the driving force, the value is high and the cost is always low.

I value inclusivity and believe in the value of communities.  My concern is that if we ignore the above we will find ourselves creating "cliqmunities"...

What next?

I’ve tried to be non-judgemental but please do react.  Tell me what you think.  Shape the thinking around this subject.

Talk about the impact of today’s conference in the context of the above.

Talk about the value of the mainstream conference format.

Talk about how community can be brought together without exclusion.

Perhaps more importantly, if you want to help provide low-cost learning or mini-conferences for the broad HR community who can’t afford mainstream prices.  Then say so.   You won’t be alone.

Post Script

The title of this post was inspired by a tweet from @BillBoorman. I’d been struggling to describe and finish this blog and it just seemed to fit. Thanks Bill! 

It’s all about community

In the past week I’ve attended 2 great professional gatherings - the EMCC London Network & the ConnectingHR Unconference.

Although quite different in overall focus, both have challenged the conventions of most professional networks by following 4 simple principles :

• Volunteer led
• The community itself creates the agenda
• The community networks to learn and develop
• Inclusive regardless of professional affiliations or experience

What I’m struck by is the level & quality of engagement such principles creates :

• Communities that welcome and support everyone involved.
• Loads of really great content and ideas shared and discussed.
• Great debate about real issues being experienced by business.
• No grandstanding or ego.  No sales pitches.  No sponsors looking for a financial return.

Isn’t this what we all want from a professional network or conference?  Makes you wonder why we go to all the trouble and expense of some of the more expensive corporate conferences doesn’t it...

Perhaps putting community centre stage is more important to professional development than most organisations realise.  What do you think?