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Messages from the archive of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist
WhatsApp to Stephen: What do you think about Musk’s “five things you did this week” memo? I’m not suggesting we copy the brutality but it could help focus people’s minds on whether they are making the best use of their time. We’ve reached a size where it is harder to keep track of everyone informally.
WhatsApp to Stephen: No, of course. I’ll make clear it’s not a threat and we are not using it to cut costs. Nothing to do with lay-offs. Although I suppose it is useful information if someone’s output is constantly below par. Mind you, we are in the comms business. If you can’t come up with a memo showing how hard you are working then this may not be the industry for you anyway.
From: [email protected]
To: All@monkwellstrategy.com
Without getting all Elon about this, I think Monkwell would benefit from copying his idea of asking all staff to list their key achievements each week. So I now want everyone to send me a list of five things they got done that week every Friday afternoon. Let me stress this is not about redundancies or punishment but I see it as a good way to focus minds and make sure we are using our time in the best way to deliver for the business. I don’t want you fretting over this — if there’s really only four things then list four. But if we all ask ourselves “does what I’m doing really make my five things list”, that can only be good business.
Rutherford
Find me on Strava, KoM Sydenham Hill, London to Brighton 3 hrs 04m, Al Jubailah/Bawdah Loop — 42 mins.
WhatsApp to Stephen: Well there was bound to be a bit of grumbling and paranoia, but they’ll get into the habit soon enough.
WhatsApp to All@Monkwell: Thanks for your lists. A couple of observations. When I said “don’t fret if it’s only four” that was not an invitation to everyone to immediately cut it down to four, as seems to have happened. Also “writing this note” does not count as one of the five. A full five next week please.
WhatsApp to Stephen: Yes, this week was better, although my five things would probably be chasing everyone else’s five things. And this week’s offerings have a lot of “lunch with prospective client”, “meeting with client”, “briefed media” and “preparing presentation for client”. I’d prefer to see a few more “landed new client”. But then again, that is what we do.
WhatsApp to Sophie: Come on, Sophie. That’s not five things. That’s two things cut into five segments.
WhatsApp to Alex@BigEnergy: Hi Alex. Oh you heard about that. Yes, just a little exercise to make sure we are giving clients the best bang for their buck. Keep staff on their toes.
WhatsApp to Alex@BigEnergy: Is that a joke?
WhatsApp to Sophie: Sophie, did you mention our five things lists to a client?
WhatsApp to Sophie: Well, now he’s demanding we send him five things we’ve done for him each week. This is not altogether helpful.
WhatsApp to Sophie: No, I don’t think this is the same thing. Anyway now you can do a five things list for him — better let me see it before you send it.
WhatsApp to all@monkwell: A quick thing. Please don’t discuss internal procedures with clients. We’ve had one picking up on our five things list and asking us to provide him with one. So unless you all want to be doing this for your clients too, let’s make sure that what happens in Monkwell stays in Monkwell.
WhatsApp to Sophie: You’re the client manager — what did you do for him this week?
WhatsApp to Sophie: You can’t send that. We need to buff this up with things they can’t check. Could you perhaps have met any departmental officials to pursue his interests?
WhatsApp to Stephen: Now they are all telling me they met officials to pursue client interests.
WhatsApp to John: Just on point four of your list, which officials did you meet? I like to know who we know at that department.
WhatsApp to All@monkwell: After a trial run with the five things lists we are making a few changes. You can send three to your line manager instead and they will send a broader fortnightly upsum to us.
WhatsApp to Alex@BigEnergy: Hi Alex, I’m afraid I’m going to call a halt to this five things email to you. At Monkwell we offer a holistic service that covers a range of activity, often with a lot of below-the-radar work. If you are unhappy with our work, you have the option of dumping us but I’m not going to reduce what we do to a Post-it note.
Messages recovered by Robert Shrimsley