Dec 19, 2020

Reflecting on '20 🏞 #171

By Ross Chapman • Issue #171 • View online

Hey everybody,

When putting this issue together, I Googled messages of 2020. That lead me to a motto: “I’m sorry I have to take care of me.”

Yes, that was some year. 1.66m deaths worldwide so far. We have survived both physically and mentally. We have built resilience. It has not been easy, but we have survived.

The photo above was taken from one of the few trips I did this year: A long weekend with my family in the Lake District. It reminds me that there is more ahead. It may get rocky, there is a clear horizon to shoot for.

I’m looking forward to ‘21, like any other time I’ve seen a year closing out. Some of my highlights this year:

Speaking at Mural Imagine
Joining Etch Horizon
Teaching at Hyper Island
Riding the first part of the South Downs Way with my son
Exploring the north of England
Meeting some extraordinary people that are now firmly in my close network
Spending more time with my family at home
Speaking at SofaConf

..and a few things I have learned:

When stuck, go in search for inspiration - to get excited once more
Choose your support group and speak to them often
Really don’t care what people think
Use your negativity in a positive way
A perennial favourite: Keep it simple

I’m leaving this year feeling good. Really good. I hope you get the chance to reflect and relax over this period and I’ll be back in your inboxes in the New Year ✨

Thank you for reading these issues and I look forward to being more valuable than ever in 2021,

-Ross

Note: If you liked this issue, please share it with someone who needs to read it! 🦜 Tweet it or share on LinkedIn

Remote Work 👩‍💻

How to Keep Your Employees Healthy While They Working From Home

Poor home-office ergonomics and pandemic-related stress can cause health problems. Best piece in here: Lead by example. I’d go as far as saying that if you’re in a session for more than 90 minutes, stand up. Be the change you want to see!

www.inc.com • Share

How I Work Remotely: Laïla von Alvensleben

I’m so thankful that Laïla puts out great content consistently every year. How does she plan her day? “Asynchronously in the morning, collaboratively in the afternoons and evenings.” Love that!

dailyremote-com.cdn.ampproject.org • Share

Headspace Co-Founder Andy Puddicombe Has a Simple Plan to Help Your Team Avoid Burnout

Be intentional about spending more time doing nothing.

www.inc.com • Share

Facilitation 😎

Unmute yourself. It's time to have better Zoom calls

How humanising our video calls can save 2021. Steph Cruchon questions the fact the maybe you shouldn’t be on mute.

medium.com • Share

The Top 101 Consulting Frameworks (2020 Year End)

Just think of all the Mural boards you could create and sell back to the firms that created these frameworks?

www.linkedin.com • Share

How Can I Make Team Meetings More Useful?

I want real discussion, not just team updates. Honestly, I want teams to look at WHAT TECH DOES WELL FIRST, then look at the human interaction WE NEED. Standups could actually be done by tech, leaving time for us to engage with each other. And do you know what we remove from the process? Presentee-ism bullshit.

www.inc.com • Share

UX ⚡️

‎NPS I Love You: A Customer Success Podcast by Catalyst: E11- Every Day Is A Reset

‎Lindsey Eatough is incredible. In this episode, Lindsey discusses how to build positive habits, challenges she’s been facing with her transition into a manager.

podcasts.apple.com • Share

KPI is an imperative tool for UX designers

What measure should we measure with? Well, consider the why as well as the how with KPIs.

uxdesign.cc • Share

Product Analytics Class with Lex Roman

A simple, self-paced class on how to get up and running with product analytics. A must try if you work in product UX.

lexroman.com • Share

Coolness 😎

What a Crisis Teaches Us About Innovation

The drive to develop new ideas and foster change during an emergency can be cultivated even without a crisis. I would argue though, that it is a forcing function. Would we be further behind with eCommerce, Direct to Consumer, Contactless tech if it wasn’t for COVID?

sloanreview.mit.edu • Share

Conferences After Covid Will Be Shorter—and Smarter

Some will be. Honestly, I’ve been out of the conference circuit, both speaking and listening for a while. I’d like to get back into it in 2021.

www-wired-com.cdn.ampproject.org • Share

15 Ways to Love What You Do

The things I wish I knew 15 years ago! Yes, I’m finishing this issue with a new one from me. Expect more writing from me (my most challenging medium) in 2021.

rosschapman.com • Share

Here's to reflecting and relaxing this time!

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By Ross Chapman

A weekly 💌 of Remote Work, Facilitation and UX Design from @rosschapman ⚡️

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