Friday Footnote # 9

Each week we share loads of content amongst Team ION and with our network. Content which inspires us, which we either find really helpful or we think would help our networks, or things that just make us smile. We thought we would start sharing these insights every Friday. Welcome to Friday footnote!

Internal engagement in a virtual world

Remote working has become common practice for many, especially in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ION team have been working from home since mid-March and as with lots of people we have had to adapt to a new way of working. We are also a pretty sociable bunch, and that is something which can be difficult to replicate in a virtual world. There are plenty of Zoom meetings throughout the week but it is also really important for us to just check in on each and check that everyone is doing OK. And have a bit of fun.

Anyone who knows us will know how big a part Popmaster (Radio 2 music quiz) plays in ION life. Everything stops for Popmaster! Despite all working from home Popmaster is still an important part of our day. Our weekly team meeting starts with Popmaster and members of the team will join impromptu Popmaster sessions throughout the week, dependent on work patterns. Adam's kids have even become the official team score masters (Adam classes it as home-schooling!). For the record, our highest team score to date is 39/39.

This week also saw the team get together (virtually obviously!) for our first ION Zoom social. Kaye ran a 'Guess the baby photo' competition (no photos will be included in this blog!) and it was fantastic for us all just to get together and have a bit of fun. Thanks for organising Kaye. The next few weeks will see a quiz and a game of 'Knowing Me, Knowing You'.

Do you run quizzes or socials with your teams to manage internal engagement during lockdown? We'd love to hear what you are up to. 

Support & Advice

• Swansea University LINC are running a webinar discussing how organsiations within our region can safely and effectively move forward with business, research and innovation, within the context of the current and evolving COVID-19 landscape
• AGOP IP, a Swansea University-led project that helps businesses realise the potential of their idea, product or research, joined us at this week's ION Open Doors Virtual networking session to discuss the support they can offer to businesses across Wales 
• The Federation of Small Businesses and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council are co-hosting a webinar next Tuesday where they will be discussing NPT's plans for businesses re-opening following lockdown
• Swansea BID also joined us at our weekly networking session (as they do every week!) to discuss plans for reopening shops in Swansea and highlighted the various resources they have available, covering everything from safe queueing systems and PPE, to health and safety checklists and the Economic Resilience Fund

Inspiration

Here are just a few things that have piqued our interest this week:

• The most important skill I learned as a leader (via Inc)
• In preparation for this weeks 'Adapt or stand still?' session, we watched this TED Talk from Marty Linsky (via TED)
• The 3 qualities of the most effective team players (via TED)
• As team ION are all working from home we created our very own ION WFH playlist (via Spotify)
• We re-shared a blog from ION Programme Director Gary Walpole on how now could be a good time to consider how we might enhance the productivity of our organisations (via ION)

Always Learning

Our virtual learning sessions continue to go from strength to strength. This week on our 'Adapt or standstill'? session, delegates discussed how adaptive leadership can help businesses overcome current business challenges.

Next week sees us run 2 learning sessions, as well as our weekly networking session.

On Tuesday, Programme Director Gary Walpole will be discussing continuous improvement and how to lead it in the workplace, as well as sharing an innovation framework that has made Toyota the most successful car manufacturer in the world. Interested in this event?

On Wednesday, Tony will be discussing learning organisations in our session, Is your business learning? The session is aimed at business leaders to assess, understand and plan how their workplaces will benefit from developing as learning organisations. Fancy attending?

Stay Safe

Team ION

PS - Missed previous #FridayFootnotes?