Fail Fast, Learn Quickly

This newsletter comes while we are in our Technology Leadership quarter and at a time when world leaders' delegates have recently returned home from the AI summit at Bletchley Park. They should have come to our virtual session with Matt Stagg and Dr Scott Stainton and saved the air miles.

As we’re coming to the end of this quarter, there has been lots to reflect on. Yes, TCM is great and all, but did you see the Beckham doc on Netflix? Strap in, I have thoughts.

Listening to our lovely guest speakers, I’ve been schooled in psychological safety, resilience, and compassion. And through this lens I couldn’t help but notice these same threads weaved through Beckham’s career.

I’m a similar(-ish) age to him and remember living through the milestones that punctuate the documentary. He could have bowed out at any one of those points: Sold as property, dragged by the press. Instead, we see empathy and understanding. Not needing to win every exchange, but take part, offer his chin for the consequences, and move forward. Sport is an emotional journey for both athletes and fans and seeing that this wasn’t just a day job that funded a lifestyle, but a vocation that happened to enable nice things (“who buys a f**king pen”), made me warm to him.

"Failing fast and learning quickly... to prioritise your journey" - Matt Stagg, as heard on The Curious Mindset session.

There was a quality there that was secure. Showing up for training and being segregated from the rest of the squad, and being on time for it. Kindness in resilience. He'd be a great manager. He knows there’s magic in his feet; whether it’s an official Premier League football on a pristine pitch, or a coke can on a beach, it starts and ends with football and family.

Find that harmony. Gather your family and barbeque a single mushroom. Be kind, be professional, be compassionate. See conflicts from another point of view. Agility takes its toll and needs resilience. And don’t sell your best striker on the back of a strop, just to show you can (Sir Alex, I'm looking at you).

Looking ahead, we are nearing the end of this quarter, having just had a session with Meri Williams, who we hope will return in our Neurodiversity quarter in 2024. Speak Up Culture is next, with some incredible speakers, including former Simon Sinek contributor Stephen Shedletzky.

If you are a technology leader, and want to come along, get started by emailing me at: rachel@thecuriousmindset.co.uk . No sales. Just community.

Don’t forget our Book Club... It’s continuing to grow, with excellent posts of the growing Library captured in the wild...

Thanks to one of our community regulars Geraint Jones for this one 👇🏼

Thanks for taking time out to read our latest newsletter,

Rachel.

(Oh, and you can connect with me here - Rachel ab Iorwerth)

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