My UKGovCamp 2018

2018 was my second UKGovCamp as I was lucky to get a 2017 ticket. Travelling home to Sheffield last year I wrote..

And then before the 2018 event..

Standard for me at most events, I arrived early which gave me chance for a recce and I found this..

I also arrived determined not to pitch as I’d pitched last year - ticked that box. I’d started the day already tired and decided I’d lurk more this year. I (gladly) failed.

I got chatting to a camp maker and said I’d mentioned to other people that it’s ok to pitch if you’re nervous or unsure — there’s plenty of people to help. Take a look at my photo above from 2017. Whilst Janet Hughes was a star in making people more relaxed I can’t expect miracles! The camp maker decided to convince me to pitch (more on him later).

I joined the queue, pitched and it was much easier that last time. Why? ‘Cos I’d done it before.

I’m not going to share my few notes on the sessions I attended as there’s more detailed ones here:

Action vs atmospherics: What makes change happen?

Not just London!

Public services and the digital economy

I attended sessions where notes weren’t taken (including managing mental health in the public sector) and dipped in/out of a couple of others. It never ceases to amaze me that, when the environment is right, people will share such personal experiences to help themselves or others. Thank you.

Listening to the quiet voices

I pitched that I wanted to discuss helping people share their voices particularly those who like to share quietly. I’ve spoken and written about this before and it continues to nag that we (i.e. me) can do better.

I was paired with Ben Daniels as he’d pitched ‘How to make the public sector a great place for introverts?’ and we met before our session. Y’know when you share thoughts and experiences and the listener agrees and nods — alot. It was that. I also appreciated Ben’s flexibility in how we’d structure the session as he’d prepared something in advance and was more than happy to shift it to include my ideas.

For a group of quiet or introverted people, we got to work on our post-its and then swiftly spoke out loud. I liked one of themes we discussed: it’s not making introverts louder or exhibitionists quieter — it’s providing opportunities for all. I’ll write about the session more.

Words and deeds and everyone else

The theme I found this year was guiding people to find their voice, providing the environment for people to share their voice and supporting people to turn their voice into deeds — and #notjustlondon. Repeat this. Relentlessly.

And everyone else? Govcamp is experienced with other people. Duh.

Yes, there is a pressure to engage and it can be intimidating walking around not knowing anyone. But the day is supported by camp makers and previous attendees who will stop and chat to people who look a bit lost, unsure or just stood by themselves. This is key.

However much you send out welcoming messages or carefully structure the day — it’s also about the welcome when you arrive, the people who take the time to talk to you (though please don’t overbear me), the acknowledgement you receive when you put your hand up and respect you experience when you speak.

And this year it was about weeknoters too!

I started weeknotes last year and got to meet other writers briefly as their session clashed with mine.

Louise Cato and Debbie Blanchard — hello!

To pause on 2018 — thank you to all the organisers, session note takers and sponsors, particularly…

Mustafa — a great campmaker for me as he seemed to know what to say and didn’t use too many words to say it. This is a good thing and got me pitching this year. It’s chatter like this which help unconferences be a success.

And to Amanda for writing this and, when I met her, being like I expected. This is also good thing.

What’ll do I differently if I attend in 2019?

• Tweet more and make connections before the day. Sharing ideas about pitches and other unconference experiences may help me and others be more comfortable and prepared when we arrive.
• Take more notes and/or tweet more on the day so I’ve got better reminders of what is said and heard.
• Recognise that I WILL pitch so prep an idea beforehand.

To be continued….

*In case you’re still wondering about ‘Elnett’ from 2017. The mystery was solved and it’s a happy ending until 2019. As long as I get a ticket…