Verity – what do you see?

 I have just visited Ilfracombe, and discovered Verity, Damien Hirst’s controversial statue dominating, yet fitting in completely at the harbour entrance.

Despite Verity being taller than the well-known Angel of the North, and making big news when she arrived, I had absolutely no idea she was there. We were staying in Ilfracombe because we wanted to be near Woolacombe, scene of many happy holidays. Neighbouring Ilfracombe was the shabby, down at heel Victorian town we had to drive through to get somewhere more appealing. We had a very pleasant surprise to find how much it has changed in recent years. Literally minutes after accidentally having a morning coffee at Damian Hirst’s restaurant, we walked along the harbour wall and Verity came into sight.

I can’t remember the last time a work of art had such an initial impact on me and forced me continue to think about its meaning.

My immediate thoughts were of feminine power and courage; she is heavily pregnant and her sword pushes upwards into the sky to signify bravery and confidence. Then I started to think about the balance of the vulnerability of pregnancy compared to the strength of giving life. She is holding the other symbol of justice, a set of scales behind her back and even better, standing on a foundation of law books. A woman who has it all?

Getting closer, I realised that on one half her flesh is stripped back to reveal her skull, her sinews, her muscles and her unborn child tucked up inside the womb. It was quite overwhelming. As an emergency ambulance was attending the part of the harbour where we could get a full view of her other side, we left it for the moment.

Back at our hotel, I looked her up straight away online and learned that she is an allegory – for truth and justice. I asked a couple of local people we met what they thought and started to learn just how controversial she is. I was intrigued when our hotel proprietor explained that a previous guest from another culture had also had quite a strong reaction to Verity, but quite different to mine. Interestingly, the fact that the scales are behind her back implied hiding from justice. Standing on books showed disrespect for learning, made even worse by her bare feet…

Armed with more knowledge, we returned to view her again the next morning, from every angle - close up, from above her and from the other side of the harbour. What did we see?

A message that truth and justice may sometimes be hidden? May not co-exist overtly?

Or, are the scales behind her back to give her the balance to thrust the sword upwards?

A pregnant woman with skin and flesh peeled back to expose her vulnerability?

Or a powerful woman who is not afraid to expose what lies beneath her skin?

Books as the foundation of knowledge and learning for everybody?

Or, books simply as a way of climbing higher and demonstrating power?

A realistic depiction of the body’s structure and internal systems?

Or a rather grotesque side to the body that we would really rather overlook?

We climbed up to the tiny chapel on Lantern Hill, which is also an ancient lighthouse. The last family to live there in the 1800s had 13 children. Presumably that fact was known to Damien Hirst when he planned Verity and her position? Also, the view from up there is of her skin covered, rather beautiful side. She is after all sharing the stance of and bringing to mind Degas’ Little Dancer of 14 years. Knowing Verity had been the cause of much consternation in the town, I wondered if this choice of aspect was deliberate. Push the boundary, make a controversial statue that will surely make people think, but also bear in mind that if it causes too much offence it won’t get past the planners at the council and will therefore never achieve what you want it to achieve.

I could have looked at her and pondered for hours. So many metaphors and thoughts about parallels with life, work, how we behave with each other, what we show, what we hide etc. but we had to continue our journey. We did stop for a final viewing though, from the other side of the harbour, through the trees. Equally mesmerising, but this time in the context of how she fits in with the whole picture of the harbour. This aspect is of the anatomical side, but from a distance. It is also well signposted…

She's at it again.

My headstone is going to read “Completely eschewed the term 'Back Office' in favour of terms that confer valued contribution of all roles, jobs and functions.”

Today, I attended a mainly positive and constructive national meeting on how the fledgling professional institute for the sector in which I work is going to develop. Unfortunately, I had to challenge a colleague round the table who used the term 'back office' when talking about how all staff may be involved in the future. She then indicated she was fine with the term and is a ‘back office’ person herself. Oh dear! I could not help myself in saying that I find the term demeaning, it makes us seem like we belong in a broom cupboard etc. and have no real contribution to the front line or the operations where all the 'real' work takes place. I find terms like 'corporate services' or 'essential corporate support' are much more acceptable. Although the meeting chair took my point, I wonder if I will be invited along to the next meeting! I have blogged about this before over 2 years ago on my old blog Basic needs, security needs and the ‘back office’.

(image from aviationarchive.co.uk)

Earlier this week, I chaired an in house meeting where during the round of introductions (with reps there from 3 predecessor organisations) one of the participants introduced herself as 'only' an administrator. Fortunately, I was not the only colleague round that table to react (in a positive and supportive manner) against anyone ever calling themselves 'just a...' or 'only a...'.

I do think this lack of confidence in the value of their views and contributions often expressed by office or junior staff is from the same stable as the casual use of terms like 'back office', or generally blaming other departments when things go wrong, or silo mentality. What these have in common is the ease with which others (those doing the 'real' work or having opinions that they perceive to matter the most) use such terminology or allow it to go unchallenged.

At best, this is just sloppy office or meeting talk, without much thought for the impact this could have on others or how pervasive it can be. An impact that has the potential to be harmful to organisational effectiveness, morale, team working etc.

At worst, this is a symptom of what I believe to be misguided views that some roles and teams have more value to the business and that others are all about ‘pen pushing’, ‘bean counting’, causing unnecessary ‘red tape’ etc. How often do you hear “someone in HR/Finance/Admin stopped me doing x, y or z.” I have made a habit of saying “Who exactly? Can you be more specific? What exactly was the problem or impact on you, and would you like me to take it up with the individual concerned?” Because, that's what they are, the nameless/faceless staff in these 'back office' functions - individuals, people who also want to do a great job. Most often, a name and a specific instance of unhelpfulness were not forthcoming. It was just easier for the grumbler to moan about an often hidden team, rather than think through what the actual issues and the impacts were, then attempt to address them constructively.

So how do managers, leaders, HR and L&D professionals, in fact all of us, address this? How do we make sure all roles, teams and functions are valued for the contribution they make to the whole success of an organisation? How do we make sure everyone feels valued and that they and their colleagues from all other parts of the organisation all appreciate what each other do and how it all fits?

Clearly, there is not a single answer to this and all organisations, whose cultures and behaviours are a direct consequence of the views held by the majority, are different. (I could get into a chicken and egg debate here.) However, I feel very strongly that a good place to start is to think about the language we use, and how we address each other, our roles and teams.

Please don’t let me be last

Rewind 35 years. I am in a comprehensive school gym wearing a very unattractive navy pleated gym skirt and a pale blue Trutex top. My heart is pounding, but not from exercise… I am full of anxiety wondering how long it will take one of the ‘popular girls’ to pick me for their netball team. Gradually I watch as the sporty girls are fought over, then gradually most of the girls in my class are chosen, one by tedious one, then yes, as usual, I am one of the last.

Filled with shame I trudge out to the netball court, am placed in Wing Defence, or wherever it is I can do the least harm. I am lucky if I get to touch the ball even once during the whole match… so I can’t really blame the team leaders for not picking me.

A few months previously, and it was the same story with hockey along with my extreme reluctance to get muddy or to join in the scrum. Fast forward a month or two to tennis and the excruciating embarrassment of lining up to practice backhand, repeatedly missing, being made to keep on trying and attempting to ignore the giggling of the bored girls waiting for their turn. So, it is fair to say, PE was my least favourite part of the school experience.

The present day. It is 4 weeks until I do the Cardiff Half Marathon. It will be my third, and probably my last, given my age and physique! I was out on a long training run with my dog yesterday, when it suddenly occurred to me that I was really enjoying, really loving doing ‘Cross Country Running’! Yes, I hated that at school too, probably something to do with being sent out over Stafford Common in freezing fog every winter…

So I was enjoying Cross Country Running.

Why?

What has changed?

I have blogged before about drive and determination to overcome setbacks and hurdles (was rubbish at athletics too). I’m also well aware of all of the research about how many hours practice you have to put in to become expert at something. (Not sure the PE teachers who put me through sheep-dip PE hell week in week out had that in mind though.) I think what changed for me was finding ways of keeping fit that I enjoyed, realising the importance of fitness for health, doing things at my own pace etc. And to be honest, when I did my first half marathon, there was a huge element of wanting to prove them (PE teachers and sporty girls) wrong.

That was ten years ago, and to be honest, I have had many up and downs since then, otherwise I would now be on my 10^th or 11^th half marathon, whereas this will be my third. I have had injuries, which I have overcome, a half marathon I trained for but pulled out of a few days before due to illness, career highs and lows, times of being incredibly busy and therefore too exhausted and time poor to train, a time I was working away from home, and a family to look after. But that feeling I got ten years ago, when I finished that race and learned that fitness can be fun and rewarding is up there on my list of major achievements.

So yes, I suppose this is another blog about the importance of drive and resilience in the face of setbacks. But it is also about:

·      trying different approaches

·      finding what motivates you as an individual

·      finding ways of doing things you find difficult, but know to be important, in ways that fit in with you and your life.

(The picture is one of the views from my cross country running - the boatyard and Uphill church)

Formidably Awesome Blog

OK. Caveats and disclaimers out of the way first.

I like the word 'awesome'.

I know and love the fact that language is evolving all the time.

I am guilty of overusing certain words - such as 'fab' and 'fabulous'.

I recently admired a blog http://linkis.com/nzlead.com/JD93A …but had the temerity to suggest, against what from the online stuff I read, is popular opinion, that the word 'awesome' is overused. It was suggested that I put forward some alternatives. Somewhat lazily, I pasted a few from my phone's thesaurus (well, 140 characters didn't give much scope.)

One of these words was 'formidable'. What a word! With my 27 year old degree in French and Art (neither used much these days) I instantly thought of what it means in French. A very different meaning, pronounced with the emphasis at the end - form-i-dah-bl. (I instantly forgot the linguistics module I did in the 2nd year, so this may not be the correct phonetic format.)

In French, formidable means:

• fantastic
• incredible
• tremendous
• marvellous

It can also mean 'fearsome', like the English meaning, which is about inspiring fear through something being hugely impressive, large, powerful or intense. But another meaning of formidable is the inspiration of respect, a bit like the word 'awesome'. And so we come full circle.

I love words.

I enjoy the challenge of thinking of just the right word to convey the meaning I intend, or to spark the reader to understand their own meaning.

'Awesome' can meet the bill, but somehow loses its meaning when it becomes ubiquitous.

I fear that this may have happened.