The sun has got her hat on and she’s coming out to play… it’s very lovely but also slightly worrisome.
If we had a video call this week I probably showed you the tadpoles. I originally thought Eloise would be interested, and she is but they also make for great pets (unlike the dog who is asleep behind me… turns round… is asleep somewhere in the house, dog stirs… it was behind me.) and entertainment while thinking.
Have you ever heard the expression ‘the say do gap’ I wondered in one chat this week, can we apply that to others i.e. senior leaders if we don't apply it to ourselves? particuly if we don't apply to the thing that we would like our senior leaders to say or do… my figuration was not.
In the FFCP Introduction chat this week a couple of people hadn’t been paid and were or some others were missing their laptops someone pointed out that this wasn't very inclusive and all I wanted to do was scream ‘hell yea it’s not inclusive lets fix the shit out of it’ but I didn't I mad some reference to a hagiarchy of needs and found the details for them to get an emergency payment, which is the first question under the pay section on the shared service provider website though it has a more threating tone along the lines of ‘this is what you need to do if you missed this deadline you didn't know about’. It is simply fixed, and that simple fix is on the recruitment pages on the Defra intranet which I am a frequent visitor of at the moment as I try and work out where Afia is stuck in the process. The fix is only to start between the 1st and 7th of the Month. The ludicracy of this fix and all the privilege that it is bound up in slightly stagers and also underlines the distance we have yet to come in the Civil Service / Defra on inclusion. The hearting fact though is that I know we will get there, it’s just right now it’s hard and it’s causing people hardship and that cant be right can it?
And unfortunately this wasn't the only thing this week where things didn't feel right. I don't think it’s anyone's fault but it felt like a ball had been dropped. I’m not going to go into what but Jack swung into action and I sent an email to people I know to see what could be done. An email came out today to all staff in FFCP to start to fill the gap.
Staff a word I used to avoid, as it feels quite possessive (owning) and I don’t like it for that. I don't like it used in that way, but in general I’m warming up to the word.
Sharon and I had a call with the Personal Assistant's and Grade 7’s this week about the change. I found it really hard setting up meetings by grade, it really greats in the wrong direction on me. But it one way in which we are organised already that cuts across team boundaries and have things like distribution lists set up. Maybe in a few years were have communities that are equally ingrained (or at least starting to be). They were both really helpful and form my perspective the biggest thing I’m left thinking about is what do we do differently or add too that is currently business as usual to make this smother for everyone? This reminds me of an idea I haven't actioned… which I could trial over Easter. I’ll write that down on a posit.
It felt like a week of getting things done — mainly because I ‘ve been putting of one thing. I’ve put it on the top of my to-do list for next week. As ever I had lots of chats with lovely people and space in the diary to think and keep on top of things.
