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How important is 'communications' when embarking on a transformation project?

8/20/2020

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Image of our 3@3 conversation with John Hatfield from Second City Communications
-In this weeks 3@3 conversation, we speak with John Hatfield from Second City Communications.

John joins us in week number 15 of the series, to give us his take on the following hot topic questions:
  • Communication is just one of many facets of a digital transformation journey. How important is it?
  • What are the common pitfalls and barriers to effective communication in change management?
  • What can organisations do to get it right and what are the tangible benefits of doing so?

In a fantastically relatable comparison, John illustrates how business transformation projects can be compared to the act of moving home when you were a child. This experience usually comes with shock-horror, fear, uncertainty and doubt for the child, which is of course not a good place to start off from. 

Many transformation projects start off from the point of view of "We are going to change you", "This is something that is going to happen to you!". So the big lesson to learn here, is don't do things to people, do things with them. If this is the case when moving home, that experience can happen so much smoother, whilst drastically reducing the negative impact that surrounds the experience. 

A key phrase to remember here is: "We would like to do this with you". It's not for you, which is patronising, or to you which is enforcing, it's together which allows for cooperation and mutual benefit.

In what is a very enjoyable 26 minute long conversation, John continues to share his wealth of knowledge and advice on the subject, making this 3@3 week, one not to be missed. 
​
Watch the full conversation below:
Missed an episode? 
Watch the full series here ​
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Three@Three - every Thursday at 3.

4/30/2020

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Three at Three Webinar - 3 topical questions from the world of business, transformation, digital and skills.

3 topical questions from the world of business, transformation, digital and skills.

What is Three@Three?
Three@Three, is a weekly video chat, between Steve Plummer (One Pebble Consulting), Angela Prentner-Smith (MD This is Milk) and Al Morris (Transformation lead for This is Milk). Each week they tackle 3 questions topical to today.  Sometimes they will invite further collaborators.

Current, Upcoming and Past Three@Three episodes: 

Episode 14: 13th August 2020
- Steve is joined by CIO Keith Laidlaw to discuss what we got right and wrong in Episode 12 - The role of IT in transformation programmes.
No questions this week, just an insightful conversation.

Episode 13: 30th July 2020 - Al and Steve talks skills
This week we ask, what is the role of skills development in the successful delivery of evolution road maps?
  1. How do you up-skill for an unknown future? 
  2. What are the key skills required for future proofing?
  3. What is the best way to support skills development?

Episode 12: 23rd July 2020 - The role of IT in transformation programmes 
In this week's 3@3, Al and Steve discuss:
1. Should the IT team lead or support digital evolution projects?
2. What does the ideal cross-departmental 
mix look like?
3. What happens if you don't have an IT department?​

Episode 11: 16th July 2020 - Creating a healthy cultures 
In this week's episode Al and Steve are joined by Kerry Freeman, an expert in cultural change and  owner of Free Human.
We ask Kerry:
1. What does a healthy culture look like?
2. How can experimentation help with behavioural change? 
3. How can I start experimenting?

Episode 10: 9th July 2020 - Top 3 tips
In this week's 3@3, Al and Steve discuss the top 3 things individuals and organisations should consider before embarking on a transformation programme.
​
Episode 9: 30th June 2020 - Culture Change
Al and Steve are joined by guest Jo McCallum, Chief Experience Officer at iDisrupt Digital. 

Our topic today is Culture Change and we ask Jo:
  • Why do so many digital/technology driven transformations fail?
  • How can you deliver an aggressive change agenda without being aggressive?
  • How do you know when your culture has been 'transformed?

Episode 8: 25th June 2020 - Do what's right, not what's easy
In this weeks 3@3, Angela and Steve discuss why now, more than ever before, leaders need to
'Do what's right, not what's easy' and ask:
  • Are the old models dying?
  • Why do leaders HAVE to embrace the unknown and lead.
  • Why do they need to accept that the evolutionary destination may lead to their own extinction?

Episode 7: 18th June 2020 - Data's role in Transformation
For this the 7th episode of 3@3, we discuss Data's role in Transformation with Alan Crawley, chief executive of Optima Partners, a customer consultancy specialising in customer transformation and data sciences and ask:
  • Why are we even talking about data?
  • Can data drive innovation and transformation?
  • How can you ensure data is utilised effectively?

Episode 6: 11th June 2020 - Resilience in a crisis
We are once again joined this week by our special guest Dr. Deborah Benson, from Leaders for Leadership Ltd.
  • Resilience & agility - what do these terms mean?
  • Can Businesses come out of a crisis more resilient?
  • Do companies need to change as a result of the pandemic?​

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What we have learned along our journey

11/29/2018

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Picture

Barbara Geczy

Customer Analyst, This is Milk

We would like to share with you what our incredible journey has taught us over the past years and to consider how these business lessons could benefit our audience. Whether you’re new to the world of business or have been in the game for years, we dare say the following lessons will hold true:
●Know your brand inside out – and don’t be afraid to be different.
 
When This is Milk was conceived, we started by defining our brand. We knew that our name would stand out from the crowd for example and prove a conversation starter. How right we were. If you’re curious as to the thought process behind the moniker, you can read about the branding exercise here.

●Treat your brand with the same importance as a major client
 
Even if you’re overwhelmed with client work, never forget to focus on your brand and to share what’s going on with your company. Don’t neglect your business – look after it and it will look after you.

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A New Year, even better than the last!

11/28/2018

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Happy new year. This is Milk blog

Angela Prentner-Smith

Managing Consultant, This is Milk

Happy New Year to you all! Here's a preview of what's in store for This is Milk in 2016
Well, we've said goodbye to 2015, a monumental year for us here at This is Milk. It’s been a year of tremendous learning. We’ve opened our minds, challenged conventions, networked for Scotland, trialed, debated, succeeded, failed and learned from everything in between.
 
We’re sure there’s even more of that to come in 2016, and so it should, after all - to learn is to get better, is to grow. And that's our mission - to make businesses better - our own included!

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How to make better business decisions

11/27/2018

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Picture

Angela Prentner-Smith

Managing Consultant, This is Milk

A simple tool to help you make the right choices for your business
A few weeks ago I took a look at the very first GANTT chart I did back in March, when it was just me sitting at my coffee table thinking 'right, what are all the things I need to do to get This is Milk off the ground?' This was just after I’d been having a slight melt down thinking ‘there’s so much to do, how on earth am I possibly going to do this?!'

I put everything down on paper that was in my head, gave them indicative timeframes and sequences and then almost unintentionally didn't really look back at it. I did it, wrote it all down, and set it aside. It was an exercise of catharsis more than anything else.

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    Angela Prentner-Smith

    Managing Consutant, This is Milk

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