Blog

A red 3 inch floppy disk on a white background. The lable date reads 12/11/03.

What this is (start here)

June 1, 2024July 13, 2025
What this is

This is the little space on the World Wide Web where I keep my writing… Read More »What this is (start here)

A bushy tomato plant grows out of a grow bag. It's laden with many green fruit, one branch already reddening to ripeness.

Community is strength

July 13, 2025July 13, 2025
New stuff

I was in the garden (fiddling with the plants, repotting, tidying, and so on) and… Read More »Community is strength

A tree in the foreground, on the shores of a misty lake. You can just about make out the woodland on the opposite shore, through the mist. It's autumn and this tree's leaves are shades of russet and gold.

Reading 3

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025
Reading

This week’s 12 links: My time to read: 15 minutes! An easy one this week… Read More »Reading 3

A small bouquet of white, purple and cream flowers sits in a grey enamel jug on a white window sill.

Weeknotes 3

July 12, 2025July 13, 2025
Weeknotes

At work: Deliverables this week: Development this week: At home:

Barn raising in the USA - a group of people are working on the roof of a barn under construction, the wooden structure is in place for the walls and roof. In front of the building, a row of black buggies, without the horses.

Psychologically safe spaces

July 8, 2025July 13, 2025
New stuff

The Mint House invited me to facilitate a breakout room on the theme of ‘Creating… Read More »Psychologically safe spaces

A "Stacey Matrix". X axis is "realisation", which runs from clear to unclear. Y axis is "requirements", which runs from clear to unclear. Clear realisation x clear requirements = simple. Medium realisation x medium requirements = complicated. Unclear realisation x unclear requirements = complex. Beyond that, in the top right hand corner: chaos.

Reading 2

July 6, 2025July 6, 2025
Reading

This week’s 12 links: My time to read: 1 hour Image credit – Dr Stefan… Read More »Reading 2

Two-panel diagram At the top: the sketch of a circle, the line doesn't join up as it's just rough, the inside is coloured green but it's going over the line a bit. Wording reads: "just make it exist first" On the bottom: a perfectly round circle filled neatly with green. Wording reads: "you can make it good later"

Weeknotes 2

July 6, 2025July 8, 2025
Weeknotes

At work: Deliverables this week: Development this week: At home:

Blach and white photo. Elspeth Beard astride her BMW motorbike, with large side and rear panniers (designed and built by her out of sheet aluminium and rivets), with a white helmet resting on the handlebars. She's wearing jeans, leather boots, and a leather jacket. She's parked up outside what looks like a warehouse, looking off camera.

Reading 1

June 28, 2025July 6, 2025
Reading

This week’s 12 links: My time to read: 1 hour 15 mins Image credit: Motorcyclist… Read More »Reading 1

A person is reading a laptop screen in an orange-tinted room. Their back is to us, and the highlights of the photo are the glow of the screen and the sun shining through the curtains.

Reading the hoard

June 28, 2025June 28, 2025
Reading

I’ve been saving digital articles, posts, and web pages to ‘read later’ since I can’t… Read More »Reading the hoard

Two teenage foxes under the bird feeders at the edge of a hedge. They are tangled over and under each other because the smaller one decided to squeeze in under its sibling's belly.

Weeknotes 1

June 28, 2025June 28, 2025
Weeknotes

Meta comments – about weeknoting: At work: Deliverables this week: Development this week: At home:

5 books on a yellow trolley, stacked spine down so that the pages are facing up. A great number of small coloured markers stick out of the pages.

I stopped annotating my books

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025
New stuff

Recently I picked up off my reading pile a book I’d purchased second hand (most… Read More »I stopped annotating my books

A sheep is nosing across a wire fence, showing interest in a black cat crouching close by on the other side. All around is green grass. I wonder what communication is passing between them.

What is this civic mediation thing

June 8, 2025June 9, 2025
New stuff

When they hear the word “mediation” most people think of sitting still and focusing on… Read More »What is this civic mediation thing

A small plant is sprouting 4 green leaves in between a bunch of rusted rebar.

Choosing active hope

May 31, 2025June 8, 2025
New stuff

I have been reading and processing a lot of material about dying and grief, as… Read More »Choosing active hope

A star studded sky with the milky way running across it, and underneath, the silhouette of a person looking up in wonder.

A constellation of endeavours

May 28, 2025June 9, 2025
New stuff

I have a quote pinned on the wall above my desk because it resonated so… Read More »A constellation of endeavours

The entrance of a subway, underground, or metro tunnel. To the left of the shot, a wall tiled in very functional pale yellow rectangular tiles, with a fire extinguisher and signage. At the edge of the wall and above the end of the platform, a round alert sign sticks out, showing a person standing arms open inside a red circle on a yellow background. It means "no access". Behind the sign and to the right of the platform, the tunnel is nothing but darkness.

Coming out about grief

May 21, 2025June 9, 2025
New stuff

Having had a little less work this month after the end of the massive 6… Read More »Coming out about grief

Picture taken looking out to sea from outside the RNLI station in Penarth, in between the two slipways. The tide is quite close to the promenade, with a few meters of pebble beach uncovered. Two children are playing near the water's edge, examining something in the pebbles. There is the white sail of a dinghy going past, and smaller white and blue sails in the distance. On the horizon you can just about make out the coast of England. The sky is mostly clear and it is sunny. It is early afternoon in late spring. The sea is calm.

Bobbio yn y môr

May 4, 2025June 7, 2025
New stuff

I know I said this isn’t a travel blog but I am going to share… Read More »Bobbio yn y môr

Case study: Accolades 2025, “partnerships” category

May 1, 2025June 7, 2025
Case studies

Who: Social Care Wales, for their 2025 Accolades, which highlight and celebrate good practice across… Read More »Case study: Accolades 2025, “partnerships” category

Cover of the book Uktra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken, on a wooden table and with bookshelves out of focus in the background (in a bookshop).

Ultra processed people

April 27, 2025June 8, 2025
New stuff

I went on holiday this year! An actual holiday. For the past few (actually many)… Read More »Ultra processed people

A rainforest landscape: in the middle, a stream runs over large boulders towards the camera. On either bank, a mix of trees with young shoots, above vibrant undergrowth. There are bracken and ferns on the right bank, and more mosses on the left bank.

Case study: governance and strategic framework development

April 16, 2025June 29, 2025
Case studies

Who: The Alliance for Wales’ Rainforests, a collaborative partnership of organisations whose remit is to… Read More »Case study: governance and strategic framework development

Two women are sat outdoors at a small table near a lake. They are talking and giggling. They both are wearing headscarves, long-sleeved tops and watches. One wears glasses. Between them on the table, a decorative lantern and a pot of flowers.

Case study: cultural competence training

March 31, 2025June 7, 2025
Case studies

Who: As an associate of Tai Pawb, designing and delivering in-house training for the Public… Read More »Case study: cultural competence training

A bunch of a dozen daffodils in a glass jar, on a wooden table, in front of a plain white wall. They are open and gloriously yellow, above straight stems of a deep green.

The 59 days of Janbruary

March 6, 2025June 5, 2025
New stuff

The first two months of this year have been so dark (weather-wise) and hectic (work-wise)… Read More »The 59 days of Janbruary

Case study: co-production masterclass

February 19, 2025June 5, 2025
Case studies

Who: As an associate of the Co-production Lab Wales, I delivered three co-production training sessions… Read More »Case study: co-production masterclass

A long view of the workshop room, with three tables of participants deep in conversation around a flipchart template, and at the end the screen with the task instructions, and me!

Case study: #NotWestminster2025

February 15, 2025June 7, 2025
Case studies

Who: #NotWestminster, a voluntary collective and a free annual event for people who are interested… Read More »Case study: #NotWestminster2025

Photo of a demonstration. There are many people in the street, wearing raincoats and carrying open umbrellas. In the foreground, we see the back of a person's head wearing a red hood, and their raised arm holding a cardboard sign which reads: "It's a privilege to educate yourself about racism, instead of experiencing it!!!"

Case study: EDI and anti-racism training

February 12, 2025June 7, 2025
Case studies

Who: As an associate of Tai Pawb, delivering in-house Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training… Read More »Case study: EDI and anti-racism training

An arty black and white photo of 5 traditional wooden chairs with straw seats, strung along a wire like laundry, pointing in different directions.

Case study: facilitation skills for chairs

January 8, 2025June 7, 2025
Case studies

Who: Wales Environment Link (WEL), a network of environmental, countryside and heritage NGOs (non-governmental organisations)… Read More »Case study: facilitation skills for chairs

A group photo of one of the Environmental Leadership Programme cohort of young people, taken in a large hangar.

Case study: power, privilege and identity

January 7, 2025June 7, 2025
Case studies

Who: The West Midlands Environmental Leadership Programme, which is run by Shropshire Wildlife Trust and… Read More »Case study: power, privilege and identity

Photo of a sign in Stowbridge, showing within a horseshoe a windmills, an industrial wheel, a bridge, someone ploughing a field with horses, and a blacksmith at work.

Case study: learning sessions on co-production

December 4, 2024December 23, 2024
Case studies

Who: As an associate for Platfform, I worked with Julian Support as part of the… Read More »Case study: learning sessions on co-production

A bumblebee sitting on top of a carrot flower type plant: a cluster of small white blooms densely packed in an umbrella shape.

Case study: community engagement

October 22, 2024June 27, 2025
Case studies

Who: The Bumblebee Conservation Trust The brief: Engaging with under-represented communities along the Carmarthenshire coastline,… Read More »Case study: community engagement

A journal is open on a table, with coloured pens and a sprig of dried flowers beside it. The spread shows on the left hand page, "a year in pixels" with a grid of 365 days and a colour-coded key indicating a mood for the day (happy, excited angry, anxious, stressed, productive, sad). Two months and one day are coloured in. On the right hand page, the title reads "books to read 2022" above an illustration of bookshelves with books, decorations and plants. A small board in the picture reads "goals: read at least 20 books", some books are coloured in with a title, and many are blank, waiting to be completed.

Analog data visualisation

October 18, 2024June 8, 2025
New stuff

I’m finally settling into a bit of a regular rhythm as a full time freelancer… Read More »Analog data visualisation

On a vibrant orange background, a diary is open on the table, displaying the whole week on the page spread, with space for a to-do list and some additional notes. A pen rests in the fold. Near it, a cup of coffee stands on a wooden coaster.

Shifting my working day later

October 17, 2024March 13, 2025
New stuff

On Wednesday 21st August 2024, I started The Experiment: moving my working day from 8am-6pm… Read More »Shifting my working day later

A signpost in Welsh at a Welsh-language festival in Cardiff in July 2018, with 13 signs pointing in all different directions (kids' area, exits, toilets, yurt, and some other words I don't know yet!). In the background and out of focus, festival tents and people.

1 of a million Welsh speakers

September 21, 2024October 18, 2024
New stuff

I attended the first lesson of my first year of Welsh classes this week. It… Read More »1 of a million Welsh speakers

6 sheets of A3 paper with the same draft process flow printed on, scribbled over and annotated by various groups, and 2 copies of the A4 sheets of questions they were asked to consider in analysing and improving the draft model. All the comments are highlighted in grey or orange to indicate they've been transferred to the final document.

Case study: co-designing a workflow through a hybrid workshop

September 16, 2024December 24, 2024
Case studies

Who: A Welsh Government policy team, who are setting up a co-production advisory group to… Read More »Case study: co-designing a workflow through a hybrid workshop

The visual recording of the event by Laura Sorvala, showing the different conversations we held and what themes were covered.

Case study: facilitating a strategy review

September 12, 2024June 30, 2025
Case studies

Who: The Gwent Regional Partnership Board (RPB) In Wales, RPBs bring together health boards, local… Read More »Case study: facilitating a strategy review

Case study: young people’s engagement in policy consultation

September 2, 2024June 30, 2025
Case studies

Who: Welsh Government policy team in the Health, Social Care and Early Years group. The… Read More »Case study: young people’s engagement in policy consultation

A photo of a young lime tree, taken looking upwards along the trunk towards the crown. The sun is shining through the leaves and producing dappled patterns of green.

An exercise in noticing

August 24, 2024March 13, 2025
New stuff

In a recent workshop on nature and mindfulness, I set the participants the task to… Read More »An exercise in noticing

A photo of the roundhouse: the walls are covered in a link pink render, and the living roof has grasses and plants growing out of it. There is a wooden veranda around the outside, with half a dozen steps leading up to it. It looks out across trees, fields and hills. From this angle, it seems like a rural setting - hidden behind the roundhouse is the sprawl of the city of Bristol.

Case study: nature and mindfulness workshop

August 23, 2024August 24, 2024
Case studies

Who: WeCanMake, a neighbourhood test-space in Bristol for imagining and making new ways to create… Read More »Case study: nature and mindfulness workshop

A hand is resting on someone else's hand, which is resting on fabric. Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash.

How to visit a friend in hospice

July 21, 2024July 21, 2024
New stuff

Notes from an online conversation. Why am I writing this? Because I don’t offer advice… Read More »How to visit a friend in hospice

Summary graph from the 7 events, showing a cloud of red dots (captured at the start of the events) and green dots (captured at the end of the events), with a larger red dot showing the average of all events, and likewise for green. The axes of the graph are people's understanding of of the value lived experience in mental health, and their confidence in working with lived experience in mental health. The green dot (at the end) is higher and further along than the red dot (at the start), indicating a slighth increase in understanding and a large increase in confidence.

Case study: events design and facilitation

July 18, 2024September 24, 2024
Case studies

Who: Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the strategic workforce body for NHS Wales. The… Read More »Case study: events design and facilitation

A forest of mixed conifers and deciduous, with sunshine slanting through the trees and into the undergrowth. There are plants at ground level, bushes and saplings, and taller trees. Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash.

Digital gardening

July 15, 2024March 15, 2025
New stuff

A long(er) read. Over the past few years I’ve been on a journey of disillusionment… Read More »Digital gardening

Presentation slide covering Values in action; on the left, co-production values, and on the right, what they look like in action. Value all participants, and build on their strengths. - Enable everyone to participate fully (equity); people must feel safe, valued, heard, understood. Develop networks across silos. - Work across boundaries and hierarchies. Pay attention to those outside of traditional systems. Do what matters for the people involved. - Listen to understand people’s context and experience first, before bringing your agenda. Build relationships of trust and share power. - Share ideas, make decisions together, test things, give (and take) honest constructive feedback. People can be change makers, and organisations become enablers. - Use positional power to remove barriers, and change the rules and permissions.

Case study: learning session on power and co-production

July 15, 2024August 27, 2024
Case studies

Who: Platfform (the mental health and social change people), as part of the New System… Read More »Case study: learning session on power and co-production

Visual from the Relationships Project website representing layers of permissions and enabling factors, with people interacting at different levels.

Case study: facilitating a “kitchen table conversation”

July 15, 2024August 24, 2024
Case studies

Who: The Relationships Project, for their event in Birmingham on 12th July 2024, about “Changing… Read More »Case study: facilitating a “kitchen table conversation”

A group of people sitting in various chairs and sofas (and some on the floor) in a colourful yard space, listening to a speaker who's off camera.

Relationship-centred practice

July 12, 2024October 24, 2024
New stuff

I had a fantastic day today at an event all about Relationship Centred Practice, the… Read More »Relationship-centred practice

White smoke on a black background. (Photo by Pascal Meier on Unsplash.com)

Making the important visible

June 27, 2024June 28, 2025
New stuff

I’m thinking about this today, prompted by the latest post on Seth’s Blog: “If it’s… Read More »Making the important visible

Example of alphabet, numerals and symboles in Inclusive Sans, a text typeface designed for accessibility and legibility in digital and print. By Olivia King, from her website.

Accessible typeface

June 25, 2024March 13, 2025
New stuff

My new obsession is the Inclusive Sans font by Olivia King. https://www.oliviaking.com/inclusive-sans (EDIT: ooh that… Read More »Accessible typeface

Case study: strategic board and team away day

June 21, 2024August 31, 2024
Case studies

Who: Tai Pawb, who promote equality and social justice in the housing sector in Wales.… Read More »Case study: strategic board and team away day

The pack of cards on my desk, 7 are presented in their entirety and the rest are stacked beside them. The illustrations are colourful and made up of abstract shapes in primary colours.

An abstract icebreaker tool

June 17, 2024September 22, 2024
New stuff

An eternity ago, my uncle gifted me with a set of cards developed by a… Read More »An abstract icebreaker tool

Photo of street art on a public bench in Brighton. Above the bench, the wall is painted in abstract shapes that look like pebbles of different shapes and colours. White text overlaid reads: "Our differences don’t have to divide us."

Case study: learning session on conflict and dialogue

June 15, 2024September 22, 2024
Case studies

Who: Cardiff and Vale Drug and Alcohol Service (CAVDAS) CAVDAS is an Alliance bringing together… Read More »Case study: learning session on conflict and dialogue

Photo of a whiteboard wall covered in post-it notes of various sizes and colours (photo by Hugo Rocha on Unsplash.com)

Sustainable facilitation

June 14, 2024July 15, 2024
New stuff

One of the feedback comments on a recent workshop was: “So much waste. Is there… Read More »Sustainable facilitation

Two people sitting across from eeach other at a small table with coffee and laptops, talking and laughing. (Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.com)

Creative icebreaker questions

June 13, 2024June 6, 2025
New stuff

I recently used an icebreaker with a group which involved them coming up with up… Read More »Creative icebreaker questions

(Photo of the page in the book) Nosy Parkinson Suitable for: groups of any size Outline: each person is given a clipboard (or improvise an equivalent) and has 5 minutes to come up with 20 innovative interview questions. They then have 10-15 minutes to "interview" the others in the room, asking one question per person and recording their name and answer. Prizes (small chocolate bars, etc.) are given at the end for the three (or any number) most unusual questions and the (three) most unusual answers. Facilitator prep. time: negligible Running time: 15-25 minutes in total Medium-high energy

Icebreaker: creative interviewing

June 12, 2024June 6, 2025
New stuff

Icebreaker for a strategic away day (staff team + board members, about 20 people).

What is this logo?

June 1, 2024October 19, 2024
New stuff

In case you were wondering:

A slide from my presentation describing the challenges and opportunities for researchers working with voluntary sector or cultural sector organisations. On the left: be sensitive to their context With matching statements on the right: offer solutions The challenges are: Funding and resourcing - what can you add so they're not out of pocket (e.g. cover volunteer expenses) Time and capacity - you bring your own time and capacity for this project / event Strategic priorities and objectives - find common ground and aligned objectives (e.g. target audiences) And at the bottom, the opportunities: Lots of goodwill, passion and commitment! - And you bring yours too! (heart emoji)

Case study: learning session on partnership working

May 16, 2024June 5, 2025
Case studies

Who: Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities (every year for a… Read More »Case study: learning session on partnership working

A campaign banner from Cardiff Women's Aid. The photo is taken at night, and shows a woman wrapped up in a coat, hat and scarf, standing outside in front of a Christmas tree lit up with fairy lights. She's got her arms crossed and is looking downwards, with a somber and reflective facial expression. The text reads: "No woman or child should experience abuse this Christmas. Give the gift of support and help change a woman's life."

Case study: staff engagement in developing a mentoring framework

April 3, 2024August 25, 2024
Case studies

Who: Cardiff Women’s Aid The brief: Develop an internal mentoring programme for staff and volunteers… Read More »Case study: staff engagement in developing a mentoring framework

A photo of a mother carrying her baby and walking past a brightly coloured wall.

Case study: user engagement and feedback on a draft resource

March 31, 2024September 24, 2024
Case studies

Who: The Cwm Taf Morgannwg Early Years Transformation team, a statutory task and finish team… Read More »Case study: user engagement and feedback on a draft resource

Case study: strategic stakeholder engagement

March 31, 2024August 25, 2024
Case studies

Who: The Nature and Us team at Natural Resources Wales: Nature and Us (Natur a… Read More »Case study: strategic stakeholder engagement

A photo across the estuary of the Dyfi river, with a wooded hillside in the background, scrubland and fields closer, and marshland in the foreground. A flock of Canada geese are settled in the shallow water.

Case study: strategic governance workshop

March 25, 2024August 25, 2024
Case studies

Who: Dyfi Biosphere Reserve Wales – a partnership of local organisations from the area in… Read More »Case study: strategic governance workshop

I am standing at the front of the room, in front of two flipchart stands, speaking into a microphone. You can see two of the participant tables, on the one closest to the photographer is the number 1, and a sign language interpreter is translating what I'm saying.

Case study: facilitating an inclusive strategic meeting

October 3, 2023February 17, 2025
Case studies

Who: KiNETIC (Kirklees Disability Equality Network), a network for disabled people in Kirklees, and the… Read More »Case study: facilitating an inclusive strategic meeting

Photo of hands holding a sparkler as a concentrated light source - everything else in darkness.

The audacity of helplessness

November 15, 2022March 15, 2025
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published in The Welsh Agenda #69, Autumn / Winter 2022) I’ve been part of… Read More »The audacity of helplessness

Glossary of engagement terminology

August 25, 2022March 15, 2025
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on the Co-production Network for Wales knowledge base.) A number of terms are… Read More »Glossary of engagement terminology

Opening title screen of the project video, which reads "The future of our forest", with an image of people in a hillside forest silhouetted agaist the horizon. Video produced by Mud and Thunder.

Case study: co-designing a Future Forest Vision in the Upper Rhondda

May 26, 2022June 27, 2025
Case studies

Who: The project was hosted by third sector organisation Welcome to our Woods, in Treherbert… Read More »Case study: co-designing a Future Forest Vision in the Upper Rhondda

The Toll film poster: Michael Smiley stands in front of a small prefab toll booth and barrier on a deserted coastal road. Inserts show portraits of Annes Elwy as the local police officer, Michael Smiley, Iwan Rheon, and Paul Kaye with a collection of badges on his woolly hat. Other credits include Julian Glover and Steve Oram. The title "The TOLL" appears in large yellow letters, textured like road line paint. Underneath the tagline reads: "everybody pays".

The Toll (2021)

November 5, 2021March 15, 2025
Archive (old posts)

Welsh Stories, Welsh Talents: What’s Next for Welsh Film?(Originally published in The Welsh Agenda online,… Read More »The Toll (2021)

Selwyn Williams, wearing a checked shirt and a ricksack, standing in the sunshine and talking to someone out of shot.

Strength in love: a community movement for Wales

July 5, 2021October 19, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published in The Welsh Agenda #66, Spring / Summer 2021) A few months ago… Read More »Strength in love: a community movement for Wales

Atlantic College seen from the air. In the foreground, historical buildings with castle-like crenellations. Further back, more modern buildings, with plenty of green spaces in between. All around are fields and trees, and off on the edge is the sea.

Case study: co-designing a staff housing policy

April 9, 2021August 25, 2024
Case studies

Who: Atlantic College, an international boarding school in Wales. The brief: Two co-design workshops with… Read More »Case study: co-designing a staff housing policy

The photo shows a window with a blue frame, just inside the windowpane a lightbox displays the message "thank you NHS".

Working through the pandemic

November 15, 2020March 15, 2025
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published in The Welsh Agenda #65, Autumn / Winter 2020) In September 2020 I… Read More »Working through the pandemic

A wide path follows a fortification wall, and is lined on the other side by a row of trees on a grassy bank. There is a slate plaque on the wall carrying some text that's too small to read as well as the name "Captain's Walk", and underneath the plaque is a green bench.

Facilitating a #BLM Town Talk

August 27, 2020June 27, 2025
Case studies

Who: Brecon Town Council, 15 councillors serving approximately 8,000 residents in this historic town on… Read More »Facilitating a #BLM Town Talk

Lego astonaut on a Lego moon vehicle holding a walkie talkie, on a windowsill

The three quarter point is a thing

May 8, 2020August 31, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) I wrote a post about the feeling of frustration and pointlessness… Read More »The three quarter point is a thing

Three women sitting down chatting, in a garden, with flowers behind them.

You will never regret being kind

March 6, 2020September 22, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published in The Welsh Agenda online, 6th March 2020) It seems to me right… Read More »You will never regret being kind

Screenshot from a video by Cognitive Edge, showing Dave Snowden presenting the Cynefin Framework (a 2x2 matrix labelled complex, complicated, simple, chaotic).

Q&A with David Snowden

February 20, 2020September 22, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published in The Welsh Agenda #63, Autumn / Winter 2019) David Snowden is Director… Read More »Q&A with David Snowden

So much

October 25, 2019August 31, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) There’s so much to do in the world. There will always… Read More »So much

A panorama of Welsh hills at sunrise or sunset, with a white house nestled amongst the trees.

Belonging to Wales: A place worth fighting for

August 29, 2019September 22, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published in The Welsh Agenda online, 29th August 2019) I was in the south… Read More »Belonging to Wales: A place worth fighting for

Public service operating principles

August 15, 2019August 31, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) Last month I drafted a table contrasting the traditional command-and-control approach… Read More »Public service operating principles

A salmon jumping upstream over a small ramp in a fast flowing river

About salmons and whooping cranes

July 28, 2019August 31, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) Somewhere along my biologist training or my subsequent cross-disciplinary meanderings, I… Read More »About salmons and whooping cranes

Double exposed photo of a crowd of people, they are captured in several positions at once.

On movement building

July 22, 2019August 31, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) It’s an asymmetrical game, with tons of behavioral research working against… Read More »On movement building

Depth measurements painted on the side of a canal

What we measure is secondary to why we measure

July 13, 2019June 27, 2025
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) I have been having many conversations about Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)… Read More »What we measure is secondary to why we measure

A vinyl sign looking like a street sign of a red circle around a silhouette walking, has a sticker saying "TRUST" pasted over the silhouette's head.

Trust enables magic at work

July 11, 2019August 31, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) Krulak’s Law states that the future of an organization is in… Read More »Trust enables magic at work

Photo of part of the page of a book, which reads: I tend, however, to agree with Dixon (2000). One myth, observes Dixon, is that (starts quote): [T]he exchange of knowledge happens only in organizations that have a noncompetitive or a collaborative culture. It follows that the first thing you have to do is fix the culture and then get people to share. But I have found that it's the other way around. If people begin sharing ideas about issues they see as really important, the sharing itself creates a learning culture. I have, of course, inserted an important caveat in that sentence: "about issues they see as really important."

Sharing ideas creates a learning culture

July 10, 2019August 31, 2024
Archive (old posts)

(Originally published on Medium.) Fix the culture in order to get people to share…? Not… Read More »Sharing ideas creates a learning culture

Photo from part of the page of a book: Businesses as If They Had Souls In "Relationships: The New Bottom Line in Business", the first chapter of their book 'The Soul At Work', Lewin and Regine (2000) talk about complexity science: "This new science, we found in our work, leads to a new theory of business that places people and relationships - how people interact with each other, the kinds of relationships they form - into dramatic relief. In a linear world, things may exist independently of each other, and when they interact, they do so in simple, predictable ways. In a nonlinear, dynamic world, everything exists only in relationship to everything else, and the interactions among agents in the system lead to complex, unpredictable outcomes. In this world, interactions, or relationships, among its agents are the organizing principle" (pp. 18-19).

Everything exists only in relation to everything else

July 8, 2019August 31, 2024
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(Originally published on Medium.) Relationships are the organising principle. Reading Michael Fullan — Leading in a Culture… Read More »Everything exists only in relation to everything else

Photo on a wall painted a deep matt navy blue, with large yellow lettering: LEAP before you LOOK - BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE - 1933 - 1957

Art produces citizens

July 7, 2019August 31, 2024
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(Originally published on Medium.) Lifted from Austin Kleon’s list of unschooling posts: If you’ve never… Read More »Art produces citizens

A photo of Austin Kleon's book open at a page displaying a black and white photo, it is of his torso wearing a tee-shirt that says "here to make friends" under a plaid shirt.

Thoughts about adding not substracting

July 7, 2017August 31, 2024
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(Originally published on Medium.) I’m always inspired by Austin Kleon’s blog posts. You’ve got to… Read More »Thoughts about adding not substracting

A road passes over a bridge on a lake and disappears into the distance.

Co-production in public services: a complex journey of change

July 2, 2017August 31, 2024
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(Originally published on Medium.) “Co-production is an asset-based approach to public services which enables citizens… Read More »Co-production in public services: a complex journey of change