Sketchy Ideas #31 - Consume more, Psychological safety in the workplace, 5 tips

Welcome back to Sketchy ideas - the newsletter that seeks to open the pencil case in your brain so you can get your ideas out in the world.

Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed last week's break. I certainly did.

It's been a very busy time for me recently and the great thing about a fun side project is you can take a break if you need.

Consumption is okay

Chris J Wilson ✏️💡 @MrChrisJWilson

“Don’t starve your creativity. Consume away! Then, please, share the best with the rest of us.” - @cjchilvers

This week, I re-read a recent newsletter from C.J.Chilvers on the value of consuming.

I see a lot of consumption shaming on Twitter. "Create, don't consume!" the charge goes. I believe the intention is well meaning — don't spend as long watching TV or whatever, spend more time creating.

It's a good idea, especially when you're starting out. But there's a limit. C.J. article helps to rebalance the scales.

Make sure you feed your creative spirit.

Developing Psychological Safety in the Workplace

(((Rachel Burnham))) @BurnhamLandD

Here is an updated version of my Sketchnote introducing Pyschological Safety - what it is, what the benefits of it are and what leaders need to do to create it - all based on the work of @AmyCEdmondson Let me know if you find this useful.

Unfortunately I've seen the effects of toxic workplaces where you never know if today is okay to ask a question or if it will be viewed as an attack. In fact, I've even fallen into some of those negative traps in the past for which I am sorry.

I've also worked in more positive places and I saw the positive effects the environment plays on everyone. So when I found this sketchnote, I had to share it.

Thanks Rachel.

Community: Tips for Graphic Recording.

Graphic recording is a visual note taking formate but it is done to help others (rather than as personal notes). This makes it different in small and large ways.

I've been experimenting with some and I asked some friends for advice. Here's what they said.  (They may be helpful even if you aren't interested in sketchnoting).

Sarah Ahmad | The Floating Designer @floatingdesign

@MrChrisJWilson @chapplecartoons Arrange your pens based on colour and thickness so you can easily reach for it! I have a belt and different cases to categorize my pens 🙂

caroline chapple @chapplecartoons

@sketchabilitynz @MrChrisJWilson BRILLIANT tip! Mine is: try and catch short/summing up quotes on a post it. Eg a speaker might say: 'customers are at the heart of everything we do'. Then if you find you have a big space at the end, you can do this is big writing and it looks like it was always meant to be :-)

Meg @sketchabilitynz

@MrChrisJWilson @chapplecartoons A some point you’ll freeze up (mind goes blank) so have a ‘catch-all’ doodle that you can draw without thinking… mine is a group of star people standing on a platform, which I add some relevant text to, when my brain has caught up. Good luck! 👍🏻

Claudio Nichele @jihan65

@FunkenI @MrChrisJWilson @chapplecartoons Warmup and some mindfulness exercise to be fully present and connected with all your resources.

funkynotes - Nicole Funke @FunkenI

@MrChrisJWilson @chapplecartoons Do a little warm-up for shoulders, arms and fingers before you start. And think of a visual hierarchy you want to follow, maybe a key visual as well.

See you next week

Thanks once again for reading.

If you've enjoyed this issue, I'd be honoured if shared it with a friend who might like it too (or in a relevant community).

Thanks and see you next week

Chris.

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