One Day Each Week Should Be Different

I'm enjoying reading The High Calling of our Daily Work blog, which regularly reminds me of the dignity and holiness inherent in work.

Today I have read a timely reminder on the value of taking a break from work, and in particular that "one day each week should be different".

This, of course, aligns with the discipline I attempt to maintain of 'diverting daily, withdrawing weekly, and abandoning annually'.

Why Google Wave?

I wrote last week on my interest in, and the beginnings of my trialling of, Google Wave.

A commenter on that article pointed to one of the many document sharing sites out there as an alternative. This prompted me to think deeper on why Google Wave has me so intrigued, when there are plenty of collaboration services which I could implement in a way that would meet my needs.

My initial thoughts were - with my subsequent thoughts in italics:

1. I'm looking for something to collaborate on docs (ie edit too) not just share them - the commenter pointed to a sharing site;
2. Wave is from Google and therefore much more likely to become more pervasive if it succeeds - as a consultant working with an ever changing array of multiple customers and partnering organisations I collect too many systems, UserIDs and passwords as it is, if Google Wave takes off and removes a need for a lot of them (I don't expect it to replace all of them) that would simplify my life and hopefully enable me to deliver value to my customers quicker - rather than being distracted as I often am now by having to learn yet another system with yet another pair of UserID and password credentials;
3. because it is designed ground up as an open protocol - very soon other providers will be able to provide Wave servers, and waves will federate among them so it won't be a closed system like too many of the current alternates - as well as the points made in 2 this one is particularly relevant to my work as a consultant working with an ever changing array of multiple customers and partnering organisations - I don't always get to choose which systems I have to work with as my customers, and sometimes my partner organisations, often choose the tools to be used for a particular project - Google Wave offers the potential of using a system that might become as common as email, without the frustrations of email (which are why we are all looking for new options anyway!).

My business partner now has a Google Wave account and I will blog my real world experience of using Google Wave in the context of running our consulting company.

Google Wave

I have started exploring Google Wave, and already see potential uses for it in the inherently collaborative project world in which I spend my working life. Many of the tools on which I, my colleagues, our clients and our project teams rely simply aren't doing the job sufficiently - particularly the all too pervasive practise of emailing documents around for review, comment and editing.

Google Wave was originally pitched when announced by Google earlier this year as a replacement for email, but that is quite misleading.

Lifehacker's explanation, from their "Complete Guide to Google Wave" is closer: "Google Wave is a new online communications tool that enables groups of people to edit and discuss documents simultaneously on the web. The Google Wave team says Wave is 'what email would look like if it were invented today.' However, because Wave is mostly a document collaboration tool, the oversimplified email metaphor can mislead new users. The initial Wave experience can feel chaotic and confusing, but use cases for Wave abound. Come on in and meet Wave."

If you would like to read more, check out these resources:

• Lifehacker’s "The Complete Guide to Google Wave" published yesterday is excellent;
• Google's own explanation of Wave: including a video of the launch/preview at the Google Developer conference earlier this year (the first 20 minutes is the key content but watch the full 1:20 if you’re really interested);
• the Wikipedia article is good (eg “Waves, described by Google as ‘equal parts conversation and document’, are hosted XML documents that allow seamless and low latency concurrent modifications”).

Things To Do In Singapore

I've updated my recent post on Singapore with my recommended list of things to do when visiting Singapore:

• drink a "Singapore Sling" at Raffles Hotel - a colonial must do for those of us with a sense of commonwealth history (in WWII the Brits running Singapore drank these at Raffles while (ignoring?) Japan invading from Malaysia in the north because they had only setup naval based defense to the seaward south) - the true experience is in the long bar upstairs, but I preferred the courtyard cafe on the ground level (where they sometimes have light/jazz live music);
• I loved walking the area around Raffles as there is some stunning colonial architecture - in particular the building that is now a museum / art gallery (which is worth visiting itself);
• my favourite restaurant area was Chijmes (near Raffles) which is an adaptation of a former catholic church / monastery / convent complex (they moved out of the inner city) containing numerous bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique shops - there were no cafes/restaurants of particularly Singaporean origin, but a good range of international food styles and some have outdoors tables in a sunken courtyard which is great in Singapore's warm evenings (not the cheapest place to eat in Singapore though);
• taking a walk through Chinatown, particularly when the street markets are open (Fri/Sat evenings from memory);
• taking a walk through Little India - in particular the streetside cafes, not particularly elegant in terms of decor, but the food is stunning - and sometimes you have to communicate in sign language as this is the one area of Singapore where I found their English might not be so good (which is actually quite a fun experience);
• the multi-level Sim Lim Square electronics store/mall near Little India has a lot of cheap (sometimes cheap & nasty) gadgets - good fun even if you don't buy anything (I would only pay cash here, don't use credit cards for security reasons);
• the street stalls/markets near Sim Lim Square are a fascinating experience - my wife and teenage daughter would have a ball fossicking and buying cheap clothes, bags, etc - I never bought much but enjoyed the experience (again, I recommend only paying in cash);
• having a cheap but authentic local style meal at one of the numerous 'hawker stalls' - these can appear offputting at first (think Asian 'greasy spoon') and I avoided them on far too many of my visits - the food can actually be quite stunning, and is always cheap;
• the Singapore Night Zoo experience is an enjoyable and different zoo experience (but too busy on a Friday evening), and Singapore Zoo itself is also a world class zoo (the daytime part is next to the nighttime part, with separate entrances), but I felt a little odd going on my own as I'd much rather take my kids (I took hundreds of photos for them instead!);
• Changi Prison Chapel Museum is another compelling experience for history buffs but it is quite a way out of town (good bus service though, and not too expensive by taxi) but this experience is probably only an option if you allocate a morning or afternoon allowing for getting to and from (I did it on a Saturday morning, and went from there to Singapore Zoo for the afternoon) - I found the stories behind the wall murals, and the hand made brass cross in the chapel, extremely moving;
• the river and restaurant / cafe area there is worth at least a walk through, but less interesting for a meal unless you're with others;
• there's a tall hotel near Raffles with a top floor cocktail bar that has quite stunning views of Singapore (I don't remember it revolving so you have to move around to see all directions) - from memory a $10-$20 cover charge but worth it for the views even if you just have a look around and don't drink (keep moving around so the wait staff don't harass you for using up a table but not buying anything or much!);
• there's now a London Eye style ferris wheel which might be worth checking out, but I haven't tried it because it opened soon after my last trip;
• I enjoyed walking all through CBD Singapore - some evenings I would walk all evening just enjoying the sights and experience of it - all the main streets are safe (but I did get propositioned and almost cornered by a transvestite-prostitute (and 'her' pimp) in a back alley shortcut I probably shouldn't have gone down in Little India!);
• there are numerous huge western style malls which can be interesting due to their sheer size and range of shops, but they would be much more fun for my wife and teenage daughter!;
• Orchard Road is the well known shopping street but it didn't mean much to me, although in the evenings some stalls are setup outside the shops & malls and they sometimes have interesting things to at least look at - there's also a lot of tailors if you want a suit or shirt made to measure ( but I think they need a couple days to make so do it early in your trip);
• I like to get to airports early so there's no risk of missing my flight, and Singapore is one of the world's best airports which I always enjoyed just walking around while waiting for my flight (I also stayed in one of the airside transit hotels on my way to/from Jakarta);
• I never checked out Sentosa Island as I'm not into theme parks unless I'm with my kids but I hear it is good fun;
• there's a bird sanctuary which I never checked out as I'm not into tropical birds like brightly coloured parrots etc but I understand it is quite something if that is your thing.

Clothes for Singapore

My good friend Michael Sampson is soon presenting his Masterclass in SharePoint Collaboration in Singapore. He emailed me earlier today "I haven't been to Singapore since 1978 ... so have never had to plan what clothes to take. As a fellow kiwi, what style of business and casual clothes have you taken? I hear it's hot there!".

I visited Singapore on business 6 times from later 2006 through 2007, usually for 2 weeks at a time.  My answer from the email reply I sent him follows, but adapted for blogging, ...

Clothes for Singapore

Yes. Temperatures are consistently in the mid to high 30s, and very humid. Even into the evening & through the night. Tropical humidity does that. Be prepared for tropical rain too, particularly Nov-Jan. Sometimes it is every day at lunchtime for about 1/2 hour! Although that is a good time to stay undercover which is plentiful.

Business dress in IT seems to be mid-level formality in most settings although occasionally they have delusions of grandeur & go full suit/tie. But usually business style trousers with long sleeve shirt (maybe polo) are perfectly suitable (& comfortable!). Suit/tie (bizarrely given the heat, but colonial habits die hard!) are still the thing in more formal settings eg the financial industry, and when working with senior management in any industry.

For casual dress in evenings I would sometimes wear my long Columbia travel pants & polo shirt or similar with comfortable walking shoes. Warm enough for cool inside settings & formal enough for all but the most expensive or exclusive cafes & restaurants. Or, if I knew I wasn't going to a more formal setting, I would go for travel style shorts, tidy t-shirt and travel sandals, or maybe comfortable walking shoes without socks. I don't remember ever needing a sweatshirt or jersey despite the air-conditioning. My Scottevest t-shirt would be perfect - wish I'd had it back when I was visiting!

Visiting Singapore Generally

Inside many buildings it can be quite cool. The lobby in one hotel I stayed in felt freezing coming in from the heat & humidity outside. They really go overboard on air-conditioning in every building (almost). Locals don't go outside much.

The locals (including many ex-pats) thought I was mad walking around so much, and outside at that!

Locals either walk inside where it is cool, or use taxis & trains. You can traverse much of the inner city by going from building to building, to mall, to underground train, etc. And taxis are super cheap - most inner city journeys are $5 to $10 although it can be hard to get a taxi, especially in the evening.

If you can get your bearings the underground train is superb (Wikipedia). It is super cheap even paying cash per journey ($1 to $3 most journeys) but even cheaper & more convenient if you get a prepay card. I think they now sell prepay cards especially for tourists - probably at the airport. This came in just after my final trip, but I seem to remember it being something like unlimited travel for 1, or 3, or 5 or 10 days. Bus is good too although I only used it a few times as I didn't know the route numbers whereas train maps are everywhere london underground style.

Getting into town from the airport is best done by taxi. Prob $30 or so. The train does go out to the airport but I found it a bit of a nuisance with luggage & just a little too long when you've come off or are heading to a long haul flight. I used to try and book a taxi for my return journey to the airport as I always left the city around 5pm Friday when you usually have to queue for awhile on most taxi stands.

Wikipedia has a good articles on Singapore itself, and tourism to Singapore. Wikitravel also has a good article on visiting Singapore.

Things to do in Singapore (added Thu-29-Oct):

• drink a "Singapore Sling" at Raffles Hotel - a colonial must do for those of us with a sense of commonwealth history (in WWII the Brits running Singapore drank these at Raffles while (ignoring?) Japan invading from Malaysia in the north because they had only setup naval based defense to the seaward south) - the true experience is in the long bar upstairs, but I preferred the courtyard cafe on the ground level (where they sometimes have light/jazz live music);
• I loved walking the area around Raffles as there is some stunning colonial architecture - in particular the building that is now a museum / art gallery (which is worth visiting itself);
• my favourite restaurant area was Chijmes (near Raffles) which is an adaptation of a former catholic church / monastery / convent complex (they moved out of the inner city) containing numerous bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique shops - there were no cafes/restaurants of particularly Singaporean origin, but a good range of international food styles and some have outdoors tables in a sunken courtyard which is great in Singapore's warm evenings (not the cheapest place to eat in Singapore though);
• taking a walk through Chinatown, particularly when the street markets are open (Fri/Sat evenings from memory);
• taking a walk through Little India - in particular the streetside cafes, not particularly elegant in terms of decor, but the food is stunning - and sometimes you have to communicate in sign language as this is the one area of Singapore where I found their English might not be so good (which is actually quite a fun experience);
• the multi-level Sim Lim Square electronics store/mall near Little India has a lot of cheap (sometimes cheap & nasty) gadgets - good fun even if you don't buy anything (I would only pay cash here, don't use credit cards for security reasons);
• the street stalls/markets near Sim Lim Square are a fascinating experience - my wife and teenage daughter would have a ball fossicking and buying cheap clothes, bags, etc - I never bought much but enjoyed the experience (again, I recommend only paying in cash);
• having a cheap but authentic local style meal at one of the numerous 'hawker stalls' - these can appear offputting at first (think Asian 'greasy spoon') and I avoided them on far too many of my visits - the food can actually be quite stunning, and is always cheap;
• the Singapore Night Zoo experience is an enjoyable and different zoo experience (but too busy on a Friday evening), and Singapore Zoo itself is also a world class zoo (the daytime part is next to the nighttime part, with separate entrances), but I felt a little odd going on my own as I'd much rather take my kids (I took hundreds of photos for them instead!);
• Changi Prison Chapel Museum is another compelling experience for history buffs but it is quite a way out of town (good bus service though, and not too expensive by taxi) but this experience is probably only an option if you allocate a morning or afternoon allowing for getting to and from (I did it on a Saturday morning, and went from there to Singapore Zoo for the afternoon) - I found the stories behind the wall murals, and the hand made brass cross in the chapel, extremely moving;
• the river and restaurant / cafe area there is worth at least a walk through, but less interesting for a meal unless you're with others;
• there's a tall hotel near Raffles with a top floor cocktail bar that has quite stunning views of Singapore (I don't remember it revolving so you have to move around to see all directions) - from memory a $10-$20 cover charge but worth it for the views even if you just have a look around and don't drink (keep moving around so the wait staff don't harass you for using up a table but not buying anything or much!);
• there's now a London Eye style ferris wheel which might be worth checking out, but I haven't tried it because it opened soon after my last trip;
• I enjoyed walking all through CBD Singapore - some evenings I would walk all evening just enjoying the sights and experience of it - all the main streets are safe (but I did get propositioned and almost cornered by a transvestite-prostitute (and 'her' pimp) in a back alley shortcut I probably shouldn't have gone down in Little India!);
• there are numerous huge western style malls which can be interesting due to their sheer size and range of shops, but they would be much more fun for my wife and teenage daughter!;
• Orchard Road is the well known shopping street but it didn't mean much to me, although in the evenings some stalls are setup outside the shops & malls and they sometimes have interesting things to at least look at - there's also a lot of tailors if you want a suit or shirt made to measure ( but I think they need a couple days to make so do it early in your trip);
• I like to get to airports early so there's no risk of missing my flight, and Singapore is one of the world's best airports which I always enjoyed just walking around while waiting for my flight (I also stayed in one of the airside transit hotels on my way to/from Jakarta);
• I never checked out Sentosa Island as I'm not into theme parks unless I'm with my kids but I hear it is good fun;
• there's a bird sanctuary which I never checked out as I'm not into tropical birds like brightly coloured parrots etc but I understand it is quite something if that is your thing.

Updated Comments Policy

A post by Michael Hyatt on his new comments policy has prompted me to tighten my comments policy, and the associated elements of my copyright statement.

My comments policy is now:

We invite and welcome comments.

We would prefer you comment in your own name, but you can comment under a pseudonym or anonymously if you prefer.

We ask that you follow similar policies in your comment as we do in the articles themselves - eg links, attribution, disclosures, etc.

As the purpose of having comments is to facilitate a conversation we will often respond to comments publicly - either by way of a further comment on that post, or by way of a new post if we think that will be more useful to our wider audience.

We might also respond to comments privately if that is more appropriate.

We will delete comments that we judge to be inappropriate for any reason (in our sole discretion).

You retain ownership of your comments - we do not own them, and we expressly disclaim any and all liability that may result from them.

By commenting on our site, you agree that you retain all ownership rights in what you post here and that you will relieve us from any and all liability that may result from those postings.

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Feel free to adapt this for your blog if that is helpful to you.

For Everyone Who Has Ever Missed A Deadline...

hat tip nathaniel

welcoming another nephew into the world

Our Hope Is You'll Get Mad Enough To Do Something

I've been following invisible.tv invisiblepeople.tv's series of short video interviews with american homeless people.

Their byline is particularly poignant: "Caution: Some content may be offensive. Our hope is you'll get mad enough to do something." - applies to all issues of social justice, really.

Each person interviewed has a story. Each has a name.

Whilst I hope New Zealand's social welfare and health systems are better at catching, and helping, people with stories like these - it is a timely reminder of the real challenges faced by vulnerable people; even in comparatively wealthy societies like ours.

Challenging ...

Kids Expressions

This afternoon we went ten pin bowling with our nephew and his friends to celebrate his 6th birthday party. Apart from enjoying a family event, I also had fun experimenting taking photos in a different setting.

This photo is my favourite from the shoot. I love the contrasting expressions on the kids faces. It captures the seriousness and fun of this activity for them.

The photo has been added to my best photos gallery, under 'family events'.

World Press Photo Exhibition

Yesterday I went with some friends to the World Press Photo exhibition that is currently showing in Wellington.

There are some very moving photos from current events of the last year. Some are sombre, as human tragedy is the pulse of current affairs. However, some are simply of the notable, like some brilliant sport photos.

The photo which struck us most is #115. We were struck by the incongruence of the girl laughing with a corpse at her feet. There is obviously a story there. Is it simply that life is so cheap in the slums? Or is there something going on that is more specific to that time & place?

The exhibition is well worth the $2 entry. I encourage you to go if you are in Wellington soon.

Also attached to this post is a link to Radio NZ's review of the show, from their podcast feed.

Enclosure

SHAFTED Model of Leadership

My friend and pastor, Paul Gardner, who shares my interest in writing on leadership, has written about a model of leadership he describes as SHAFTED: "Stolen From Here, There And Everywhere Deliberately". The model comprises three elements:

1. Know, develop and work to your leadership STRENGTHS;
2. Understand and fix your leadership FATAL FLAW;
3. Work with your TEAM to achieve the rest.

Whilst I see the humour in it, I'm not too sure about the acronym SHAFTED given its negative connotations.

However, this is a very useful contribution to our understanding of how to be an effective leader. It applies whether your interest in leadership is primarily within the church (like Paul), or in business (like mine), or in other domains.

I recommend reading Paul's series in full.

What do you think?

Next Actions and the GTD Add-In for Outlook

Eric has written a post describing how he uses the standard Outlook task 'status' field to supplement the Netcentrics GTD Outlook add-in. In his case he uses it for what I call "subsequent actions" (he sets the status to 'not started') which only become active (a "next action") once a prior "next action" (he sets the status to "In Progress") has been done.

I use a slightly different technique, which I have described in a comment on his post, and here:

I achieve a similar result using Due dates. In my workflow subsequent actions will usually occur on a day in the future once the predecessor next action has occurred. I have a filtered copy of the standard Actions by Project view which has an additional filter on it for actions due on or before today. An implication is I have to due date all my tasks or those with a blank due date are also filtered out, as well as subsequent actions. If when the due date comes around and the ‘next action’ is not yet done, but the ’subsequent’ action appears on my list as now due, this prompts me to either do the ‘next action’ (remembering that I should have already!) or reassess when the subsequent action is due.

The same technique also works as a tickler. For future tasks/reminders I want to be ‘tickled’ about I simply create a task with the relevant due date. On that date it appears on my filtered view as it is now ‘due’.

How are you using the Netcentrics GTD Outlook add-in, and standard Outlook functionality, to manage GTD for you?

Photography

Last week I moved into the world of Digital SLR photography. I was getting increasingly frustrated at the inability of my low end point and shoot camera to handle action, or detail. I'm having a great time trying out my Canon 400D camera.

I have added a photography section within GavinKnight.com to share my best photos. At the moment there is only one image there, although I have a few others already that I'll load later.

I have already enjoyed photographing a lunchtime walk around the Wellington waterfront, the view from my home, my son Joel's rugby game, a visit to the pool and the Wellington v Canterbury Ranfurly Shield game (even though we lost!).

Well Done Canterbury

I have been a Wellington rugby supporter for all of my more than 40 years, and it's never been easy, but tonight was humiliating. Until late in the second half it looked like Wellington wouldn't even score a point.

It was a game which promised to be one of the great Shield games. Maybe even like the classic game between Canterbury and Auckland in the 1980s. I took my kids along in anticipation of seeing one of the biggest games of their lives. However, it was not to be. Wellington didn't fire a shot for most of the game, and when they did it was far far too late.

Well done Canterbury. I hope you respect the Ranfurly Shield better than my team did. You should, because you always do.

Dear Cabinet Ministers, & Peter Dunne

"Dear Cabinet Ministers, and Peter Dunne (my MP, and also a Minister).

No matter which way you look at it the results of the recent "Smacking Referendum" are resounding and compelling. Yes, the question was poorly worded - but it seems clear to me (and many many others) that the more than 87% of NZers who voted "No" are clearly saying that this law is not a valid expression of what criminal behaviour is.

Press reports tell me that the Prime Minister is taking unspecified proposals to Cabinet to address these concerns. But it would seem the PM's proposals do not go as far as replacing this obnoxious law which it is now abundantly clear does not carry the support of more than 87% of NZers. If so, such proposals cannot be an adequate response to the clearly expressed will of the NZ voting public.

You can do better than this.

I commend to you the "Borrows amendment". It is a much clearer expression than the current (amended) s59. And, ironically - given the debate, actually provides children with more protection because it defines reasonable force for the forms of smacking (and other ‘reasonable force’) which the current (amended) s59 allows but does not define.

I ask that, whatever you decide in response to the PM’s proposals, you also introduce a bill to parliament along the lines of the "Borrows amendment", allow it to go to Select Committee, and then pass it if it carries public support.

Yours sincerely, Gavin Knight, Wellington.

PS, this letter has also been posted to my blog. I reserve the right to also post your response, particularly if it is not a substantive response."

Update: I suggest you also read Madeleine's similar letter.

Chris Trotter on the Smacking Referendum

Christ Trotter, a left wing journalist with whom I rarely agree, has written an insightful article interpeting what last week's referendum result tells us, and placing it in it's historical and political and social context:

... The count [in the the so-called "Anti-Anti-Smacking" Citizens Initiated Referendum] showed that nearly nine-tenths of the voting population responded to the question: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"; by voting "No".

What does that result tell us about those New Zealanders?

Does it tell us that 87.6 percent of us are inveterate child-beaters: cruel and unusual punishers, who see their children as some sort of personal possession; mere extensions of their own, all-too-fragile, egos – rather than as vulnerable little human-beings, with the same right to be protected from common assault as any adult?

Has it, if only for the brief moment it took to draw the heavy curtains of silence and denial more closely together, afforded us a glimpse of the ugly dysfunctionality at the heart of the New Zealand family?

Has it alerted the 11.8 percent of us who voted "Yes" that all around us children are living in a state of deep emotional confusion: never knowing from one moment to the next whether the adults they love and trust most in the world are going to suddenly lash out and whack them?

To hear the defenders of the "Anti-Smacking" legislation tell the story, that’s exactly what the result of the referendum has told us.

Are they right?

The answer, of course, is "No."

The truth of the matter is that most of the young New Zealanders currently raising children long ago stopped using the "smack" as part of "good parental correction". If they hit their kids at all, it’s only in the extenuating circumstances already contained in the current legislation – which basically sanctions the use of parental force to prevent a child from either inflicting or experiencing greater harm.

These parents are part of the great virtuous circle of childrearing which traces its origins back to the dramatic cultural shifts of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. With each passing generation, this circle will widen until, in a relatively short space of historical time, the use of corrective violence will almost entirely disappear from New Zealand society.

Sue Bradford’s "Anti-Smacking" law reinforces this trend – but it did not create it. And, regardless of whether the law survives this referendum result, the trend will continue. ...

I encourage you to read the full article.

Review: SharePoint Roadmap for Collaboration

I have just finished reading Michael Sampson's second book "SharePoint Roadmap for Collaboration: Using SharePoint to Enhance Business Collaboration". Michael describes the book this way:

"SharePoint Roadmap for Collaboration is the indispensable guide for IT and business people wanting to use SharePoint to enhance business collaboration. The roadmap focuses on the business and human side of SharePoint, rather than the technology."

Michael has an engaging writing style. I almost heard him reading the text. I could easily envisage him delivering the content in a workshop or seminar context - both of which he offers!

The book is very readable despite being full of rich content covering some complex areas. For the last couple weeks I read a chapter every few days. Then today I completed the second half of the book in one sitting. It flows very well.

I have been a member of IT project teams for over 10 years, and in project management roles on such projects for over 5 of those years. The insights in Michael's book resonate closely with my experience.

The ideas Michael explores are equally applicable across a much broader range of IT projects. Not just collaboration projects generally, or SharePoint projects specifically. I encourage Michael to explore this further in his future writing.

This afternoon I am meeting with one of the business sponsors for the IT programme of work I am leading for his organisation, a client of mine. An imminent project within that programme - which he is quite wary of - is the implementation of SharePoint for an intranet, document management, search, reporting and collaboration. All of these processes are broken to some degree within this organisation, which is one of the key business challenges my programme of work is seeking to address.

I will be showing him Michael's book and encouraging him to buy a copy. It will enable him and his colleague executives on my steering committee to ensure they provide my programme with continuing oversight that is focussed on achieving what they need.

Now, on to reading Michael's first book "Seamless Teamwork: Using Microsoft SharePoint Technologies to Collaborate, Innovate, and Drive Business in New Ways".

Michael and I are friends. I remember us first meeting when we were teenagers. Then, in the mid-to-late 1990s, we worked closely together on the team that started a new church in our suburb. During this time our friendship developed, and continues to this day even though Michael and his family moved to another part of the country. We don't see each other very often, but communicate regularly on twitter, by email, by txt/sms, by commenting on each other's blogs and occasionally by phone. However, do not let my friendship with Michael detract from your reading of the above review. I do a lot of reading - both for my professional life, and generally. Michael's thinking and writing is world class. This book is clear evidence of that.

Jazz and Leadership

Earlier this month I wrote "Lessons on Leadership from Jazz" as the first expression of my thoughts on how "my preferred leadership and working style aligns closely with how jazz music is performed".

This synergy between jazz and leadership is something I had been pondering alone for over a year. Unusually, I had not looked around to see what others were thinking about it. Of course, nothing is new under the sun, and it turns out I am far from the first person to have made the connection!

Within a day of my post appearing Brian Fraser of Jazz Think emailed me (from Canada), and we have since been in conversation by email. I am very encouraged by how rich his thinking is on this topic. I particularly like his 'thought provoker' articles "Innovation, Organisations, and Jazz" and "The Workplace as Jazz Club".

I see Brian has also written a book on the topic, so must purchase it! - even though he also makes it available for free download.

Why I Voted No

I have been pondering my vote in the smacking referendum for some time, and finally filled in my voting paper tonight. I will post it tomorrow, just in time!

Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?

My intent has wavered because I am not happy with the behaviour of too many on either side of the debate, and quite frankly, don't want to be associated with many of them.

Here's why I considered voting Yes:

• although Sue Bradford's original bill would have removed the 'reasonable force' defense from parents in all circumstances, the law as actually passed only did so for 'correction' - the new s59 clearly allows 'smacking' in other circumstances (safety, offensive behaviour, normal course of parenting, etc)
• the wording of the referendum question is appallingly poor, and I have to wonder whether this was done cynically by those proposing it - even Sue Bradford (hardly a supporter of this referendum) identified a much simpler and clearer wording of what we all think the referendum question is, and should be "Should the defence of reasonable force for the purpose of correction be available to New Zealand parents?" (interestingly this would invert the Yes/No way to vote)
• I am very unhappy that the christian aligned organisations supporting the referendum have lost the debate over the language of the debate, and that smacking is now synonomous with violence - while the referendum will probably be 80-90% "No" the language of the debate has been about violence - he who loses control of the language of a debate has lost the debate
• a close friend is a retired policeman who spent considerable time working in the family violence area in the third world in 1990s - he tells me he only made progress with teaching people that hitting your spouse was never OK when the threshold was zero - there was no level of 'smacking' your spouse that was appropriate - maybe, just maybe, by making the same point about parental smacking of children we might be able to start making progress with those segments of our society for whom the tolerance for acceptable 'smacking' of children is much more brutal than we want to be the case - unfortunately, we're never going to stop child abuse, but maybe, just maybe, we might be able to reduce it

Here's why I considered voting No:

• I have no doubt that in most cases 'smacking' is done as part of 'good' parenting
• I am also certain that in most cases where 'smacking' is not 'good' parenting, it is still far short of what most New Zealanders consider criminal behaviour - and even the old s59 would have dealt appropriately with the more extreme cases which are/were clearly criminal (even if there were a few exceptions of juries allowing the defense when most think they shouldn't have)
• I am not sure what 'correction' means in the context of the new s59 - I think it is synonomous with 'punishment' - ie it specifically disallows 'smacking' as a punishment

In the end I decided to vote No, because I consider that in most cases 'smacking' falls somewhere in the good/bad parenting range, not in the bad/criminal parenting range.