No official council meetings all week – chance to do some of the ‘background’ stuff …
Until I started to run my own business I never really thought I was an ideas person. And even then it was only when a business advisor friend of mine pointed this out. Even now I’m still not quite convinced I have original ideas but I do know I can take one that already exists and, in the words of my Dad, do a ‘mod’ on it. So what’s this got to do with anything? Well, I’m sure all councillors have parts of the role they like best. For me, one of mine is I get a buzz out of creating ways to improve how we interact with residents - I've got a real 'bee in my bonnet' when it comes to communication, and how ineffective it so often is. By rethinking or developing processes I’m forever coming up with ‘mods’ when producing literature, or planning surgeries, or putting on events, etc etc to help get the message across.
And it will often be something quite simple. One of our surgeries was in the evening and very few ever went. We’re now trying it out in the morning when it’s busier, and because the main meeting place is in a café I can put flyers on the tables & the counter. So I was well chuffed when the other week a guy picked up my flyer and said ‘thank you, will keep this in case I need it’ – small beginnings but big potential.
And isn’t just great after you’ve delivered a direct mail letter, or general newsletter, when someone responds to it, even if they aren’t very happy about something - at least this proves you have actually managed to communicate with them so they know who you are and how to get hold of you!
To finish the week, and after the last few weeks' steep learning curve, it was great to have a relaxing get together with ‘the girls’ on Friday – swap stories, issues, problems, and good practice (and of course gossip!)
Until I started to run my own business I never really thought I was an ideas person. And even then it was only when a business advisor friend of mine pointed this out. Even now I’m still not quite convinced I have original ideas but I do know I can take one that already exists and, in the words of my Dad, do a ‘mod’ on it. So what’s this got to do with anything? Well, I’m sure all councillors have parts of the role they like best. For me, one of mine is I get a buzz out of creating ways to improve how we interact with residents - I've got a real 'bee in my bonnet' when it comes to communication, and how ineffective it so often is. By rethinking or developing processes I’m forever coming up with ‘mods’ when producing literature, or planning surgeries, or putting on events, etc etc to help get the message across.
And it will often be something quite simple. One of our surgeries was in the evening and very few ever went. We’re now trying it out in the morning when it’s busier, and because the main meeting place is in a café I can put flyers on the tables & the counter. So I was well chuffed when the other week a guy picked up my flyer and said ‘thank you, will keep this in case I need it’ – small beginnings but big potential.And isn’t just great after you’ve delivered a direct mail letter, or general newsletter, when someone responds to it, even if they aren’t very happy about something - at least this proves you have actually managed to communicate with them so they know who you are and how to get hold of you!
To finish the week, and after the last few weeks' steep learning curve, it was great to have a relaxing get together with ‘the girls’ on Friday – swap stories, issues, problems, and good practice (and of course gossip!)
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