L&D TV VIDEOS

The inquest into the tragic death of 19-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck has cast a harsh light on the pervasive issue of sexual harassment within the British Army. On BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, one woman, an anonymous former Army officer, described how the Army culture means that women have to manage male egos to get by. This means women need to do a lot of emotional work merely to exist in that space. So, an assault can be catastrophic because their resilience is already low.

Recently I’ve spoken to quite a few change consultants, very few of whom had heard of Robin Dunbar. You know, Robin Dunbar, the internationally famous British scientist. Known for the Dunbar number. Emeritus professor of evolutionary psychology at Oxford. No?

For me, last year ended on an amazing note. Our client, Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus received an award for culture change from the UK Bus Awards with our dramatized storytelling the main factor cited by the judges. Congratulations!

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…

The Greg Wallace controversy offers a stark reminder for HR professionals in the wake of the Worker Protection Act 2023: employers now have a proactive duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Reports suggest that complaints against Wallace were ignored – contrary to the new guidelines – and his behaviour was allowed to persist. Legally and ethically, this is clearly unacceptable. It’s a cautionary tale for employers everywhere…

In the post-mortems of the 2024 US Presidential election, one accusation rings out repeatedly: that the wealthy, college-educated leaders of the Democratic Party struggle to speak the language of the working-class people they aim to represent. Trump, on the other hand, speaks in a way that resonates with that audience.

The landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the United States is experiencing a significant shift. A series of campaigns led by right-wing activists have prompted several major companies to roll back their DEI initiatives. As UK businesses observe these developments, it’s crucial to understand the underlying factors and potential consequences to make informed decisions about their own DEI commitments…

In this newsletter I’ve collated some of my recent observations about the more common errors I see regularly in video drama for learning. I hope you’ll find them useful.

Drama is formed from conflict and it is articulated around decision-making. This is another reason that it is so useful for workplace communications. Our duty at work is to make continual decisions as an agent of the organisation. But we are not machines and our emotions are continually challenged by the demands of duty. Drama is one of the most powerful aids for facilitating productive conversation about the emotional elements of work. What TV show have you enjoyed that pertained to your workplace experience?

This is not a toy. Only the young or the hopelessly commonsensical dip it into liquid soap, content with bubbles. Curl your fingers around the handle, lift it to your mouth, and flick the switch. Say what you long to say. The fan is small, but its aim is true. You will be heard. This poetical story by Colson Whitehead was the main text in an auction entry on eBay for the bubble blowing gun in the picture. The gun was purchased for 50 cents and achieved a final bid price of $36… Do stories make us value things more?