Some thoughts on whatever that (2020) was all about...
Happy Christmas everyone.
It’s Friday 18th December 2020, and I promised myself (and my long-suffering family) a couple of months back that, come hell or high water I would be finishing for a two-week Christmas break today.
I intend to keep that promise. But before I do, I wanted to share some thoughts on my experiences of the previous year.
It’s been difficult. Heartbreaking at times. I banned myself from using the word “unprecedented” sometime in April, but it truly has been unlike anything anyone has experienced for over one hundred years.
But, professionally at least, it’s been pretty interesting. Some good, some less good, some notable.
Here goes:
Working in the NHS
I’ve done a lot of NHS work this year. From branding to video content to comms strategies, it has involved a bit of everything. I’ve seen hospitals and clinics go from just emerging from the usual winter pressures into total lockdown, into adaptation. Everyone I’ve worked with has been an innovator, and demonstrated super-human resilience. They deserve your claps. But they also deserve more structural and governmental support to thrive beyond COVID-19. Let’s hope they get that. I’ll be proud to be a colleague, whatever happens.
2. Thank the coffee makers
You know something, I actually got a Nespresso coffee maker for Christmas last year. And given my propensity for planning my walking route to clients’ offices via various artisan coffee outlets (especially in Manchester), it would’ve been a very bereft year without it.
Mellow Birds wouldn’t have cut it somehow.
(No offence Mellow Birds)
3. I miss meeting people face to face
I have run a couple of project this year entirely from my home office on either Zoom or Teams, and it’s been great. But I must admit, I have missed speaking with people in person. I’ve managed to do some really interesting comms strategy work entirely over Zoom, but I can’t help but wonder how it could have been better had I been able to the the whites of people’s eyes in the co-production workshops. I do hope we can get back to doing things with post-its and sharpies in 2021.
4. I miss going places
A lot of travelling can be tiring, unproductive, and unpleasant. But I do miss going to some of our cities, or finding random villages (where I would usually be interviewing someone for a video). It does expand your horizons and make you think about things differently. You also get to experience cool places to eat lunch and drink the aforementioned artisan coffee. I can’t wait to get back out there again.
5. But I don’t miss 3 hour round-trips in the car for 45 minute meetings
I was doing my accounts earlier in the year, and making sure all my travel expenses were in order. It was then it hit home to me, just how much time I was spending in the car or on trains. Being in the car a lot is great for getting through podcasts and audiobooks - but less great for your productivity. In this respect, I’m pleased that the penny seems to have dropped that not every conversation needs to be a face to face one. Those half hour “catch-up” meetings (which can often be really important for relationship building and for talking through critical parts of projects) can very often be done just as well over the phone or via Zoom.
6. Helping stretched comms teams
I’ve been pleased to be asked to support a number of comms teams this year who have been massively under the cosh due to the pandemic, to help with an extra pair of eyes their strategies, or to help push essential messages out there.
Every time, I’ve been welcomed into the team as a valued colleague, which I’m super grateful for.
7. I’ve written some stuff and expressed some opinions publicly
There has been a lot to talk about in the world of comms this year. For me there’s two big ones. Firstly, how the comms industry’s practices will change as a result of the pandemic, and secondly, how successful (or otherwise) the UK Government’s attempts at public health messaging have been.
I’ve expressed opinions on both of these things:
when this is over… the comms community’s 10 hopes for the post covid-19 world. (via comms2point0.co.uk)
someone needs to say it: the uk government’s covid-19 comms have failed (via comms2point0.co.uk)
There is an unedited version of the second one still on my computer that might see the light of day one day…
8. Comms has never been more important
I know comms is important. If you’re reading this, you probably do too.
However, the general population this year has been subjected to government communications almost constantly, in a way that it has probably never noticed before. This has been of varying quality and effectiveness.
There are so many lessons we can all learn this year about what has worked, and what hasn’t; about how our work is commissioned and evaluated.
Let’s use the experience of this year to continue to press home how important good communication is.
9. Taking a break has never been more necessary
Let’s face it, it’s been a pretty horrible year. We’ve all worked hard. We’ve done it out of a sense of duty. We’ve done it because we love the challenge. And we’ve done it out of a sense of duty an obligation to our friends, families, and communities.
But it has taken its toll. And we’re tired. But as things are unlikely to get much easier in 2021, it’s really important to take a break, even for a couple of days.
Our colleagues, and communities are going to need us next year too. Let’s get some rest, and be ready for the challenge.
10. There have been some cool things that have happened too
My son became Liverpool’s most famous boy for 48 hours back in March:
I got so into noodling on the the guitar in my free time that I ended up releasing an EP:
I did also perfect the art of sourdough baking too:
And of course, THIS happened:
And, at the risk of being overly political, THIS happened too:
So it’s not been all bad.
11. I’ve kept healthy
Among everything, I’m grateful that myself and those closest to me have keep safe and well throughout this year. I know people who have had COIVD-19 of course - I think everyone does. But we’ve been OK. It’s been a tough year. But for those people who have lost someone close, or have been sick, it’s been heartbreaking. So however much I’ve missed the pre-COVID world, this is no hardship whatsoever compared to those that have had to deal with illness and bereavement. It’s important to remember that, and to be grateful for being OK.
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I’d like to finished by giving a special thanks to everyone who has supported me and chosen to work with me this year. If we didn’t to work together this year, I hope we do in 2021 (or 2022 or beyond).
I’m off for a few weeks now and back in action on 4th January 2021. Between now and then, please do have a great Christmas and New Year.
See you in 2021.
