L&D TV VIDEOS

By now, most people in the UK are aware of the Netflix drama Adolescence, which explores the harrowing subject of online male radicalisation and violence against girls. Writer Jack Thorne said he and co-writer Stephen Graham wanted the programme to be a piece of work that “causes discussion and makes change.” This, of course, is exactly the aim of my own Drama for Change methodology – though within a workplace setting – so I feel compelled to report on the project…

First, let me wish you all the delights of the season. Whether your plans are for mistletoe, mince pies, or a merry drink or two, I hope it’s a time of joy and relaxation. Or perhaps you’re stepping up as the designated driver this year? Personally, I rather enjoy the role – it’s a handy excuse to dodge the eggnog and still soak up the festivities. But have you ever wondered where the idea of the designated driver came from? Let me tell you a story that takes us from Scandinavian social norms to American TV sets, and finally, to a powerful campaign that saved thousands of lives – and all with a few lines of dialogue…

From Viral Moments to Purposeful Change A brief remark by actor Saoirse Ronan sparked a global conversation on women’s safety and everyday vulnerabilities. The structure and mechanism of the wildfire spread of this message is what we try to leverage with Drama for Change – affecting behaviour and culture in the workplace. Learn more in my latest Newsletter. https://lnkd.in/e9Q8h5r8

Mergers and acquisitions, toxic cultures, compliance initiatives that are getting no traction – these are some of the hardest problems to fix. All are fundamentally behavioural issues and are excellent subjects for a Drama for Change initiative. After many months of developing and refining Drama for Change, I’ve put together a white paper to explain the methodology in detail. It’s concise because I prefer things short and to the point, but it nevertheless outlines the research-based framework and the material that informed it. If you’re interested but sceptical, or if you need to explain it to sceptical colleagues, the white paper can help. You might find it intriguing…

In this newsletter I’m revisiting a recent project designed to reduce collisions in a bus fleet by influencing behaviour with video drama.

Fill your heart with love today Don’t play the game of time Things that happened in the past Only happened in your Mind You might be familiar with this Biff Rose song from David Bowie’s recording. It’s a beautiful idea. If we can let go of things and move forward, a world of possibility is open to us. But people’s identities are tied up with stories. Stories of past events that are hard to escape.

This is an important cue for learning and development professionals to further the discussion of how a diversity and inclusion agenda can be properly served in the workplace. The problem is that, as a great deal of research has repeatedly shown, diversity training doesn’t work.

We’ve just produced an advert for TV and social media designed to boost recruitment for Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus. I’m pleased to say that job applications have already significantly increased. 

In most large organisations there is a problem that seem impervious to everything you throw at it. Training and mandating, workshops and awareness campaigns don’t make a dent. These problems usually boil down to one thing – behaviour.

I make video for learning and I specialise in drama. When people think of training films, it’s not what they think of when we say “Netflix”. After a lifetime in the sector, during the lockdown, I took a hard look at video drama in learning to work out how we can improve things.