NORTHERN PLANNER

It amazes me 4 or so people who read this blog bother. I get even more incredulous that after reading it, some actually ask for advice. Please remember, I'm just a tea drinking swimmer who works in one of the most god-forsaken planning outposts in the world.

Not even my little boy listens to anything I say, unless it's our weekly swimming lessons, or sharing deep knowledge about Star Wars (and yes, this is shameless excuse to publish my favourite picture of the two of us, but for balance, I'd better publish one of both kids, but if Evie ever wants to know about Star Wars remains to be seen)

Anyway, I still swelled with pride when an former APSOTW student let me know he has his first planning job. Brilliant, brilliant – and I'm sure, nothing to do with the blatherings on here.

But he let me know that his first job is about shaping his own role without mentoring. At once great, since you can write your own future, but also tough – we all need guidance from time to time.

So I was glad to share some thoughts on this and that through email and, on reflection, thought it might be of use to the other three readers.

Probably not, but you never know.

Just be mindful, what I share won't be what everyone thinks, it certainly won't be 100% right.

Because we're all different and so are different organisations. How you fit and develop is a reflections of amplifying the best parts of both. So you have to find your own voice and mould that to wherever you are, or wherever you want to be if they end up mutually exclusive. . 

This is just what I think and the kind things I try and do do get through the day to day.

(and these were stream of consciousness emails, I will apologise for typos and grammar mistakes even less than usual)

Anyway, here's the first email chain. Names and clues to identity have, of course, been removed.

 

Hi Andrew, 

As part of your job, do
you create storytelling platforms? If not, who's job would that normally
be? 

 

Hi

That depends on the objective- if it requires overt storytelling then yes
because it's as much about comms planning as creative therefore it needs to be
collaborated on

If
you are a great writer it's something you can own a bit more than traditional
creatives 

Just
a watch out try and develop stories  that include customers as fellow
protagonists 

 

Thank you, Andrew. 

What do you mean by overt storytelling?
Can you please give me an example. 

I'll go about creating
one with your advice about the customers. 

 

 

Hi

Actually
telling a story that develops in your communication rather than just making all
your channels consistent 

Also, think about the role of different channels they
shouldn't have identical executions but should play their own part in the
narrative ...they should make sense on their own and add to the wider whole