Watch Lessons from the Lockdowns, with Thihoa Gill and Sarah Bennett in conversation with Naomi Stead and Justine Clark – and access the associated CPD below.

With much of Australia back in lockdown (again!), we started our new set of Light at the End of the Tunnel sessions by reflecting on what we have learned over the last 18 months, what advice we might offer each other, and how practice is adapting and changing.

For Part 1 of Lessons from the Lockdowns, Thihoa Gill of Grimshaw and Sarah Bennett of Six Degrees join Naomi Stead and Justine Clark for a lively, informal and informative discussion.

In an open, generous conversation, Thihoa and Sarah share their experiences of managing practices over the last 18 months, the challenges of the COVID “forced experiment” and learning how to operate as a separated workforce. We talked tech, project management, the economy, fees and deadlines, retaining talent in a hybrid workplace, and how to deal with poor behaviour in practice.

Mental wellbeing was a key theme, and our speakers shared advice about being flexible, being good communicators and ensuring leaders showed vulnerability too. Thihoa focused on the importance of messaging around kindness when managing teams, to encourage people to look after each other and themselves.

As always, the Parlour community filled the chat with useful tips and suggestions, including “bookending a work day with a 5.30pm meeting” to ensure people switch off when they need to, “full day group Zooms” to facilitate collaboration and connection, and even “locking the laptop in a drawer on Friday night and only taking it out Monday morning”.

Our first Light at the End of the Tunnel session for 2021 is packed with useful advice. The second session on this topic brought the perspective of an established consultant, Sue Wittenoon, and younger practitioner, Ilana Razbash. The video of Part 2 is also available.

“Totally missed the Light series! So glad that it’s back!” — Badru Ahmed

If you enjoy the video and are not purchasing access to the CPD questions, please consider donating to support Parlour’s ongoing work.

 

CPD

1 formal point on completion of the CPD questions – a link will be sent after you have booked. The series learning objectives are here.

Once completed, you will receive an email with your responses. This provides the evidence of attendance and completion for the session. Please keep the response email for your records. It counts as your certificate. (If you can’t find the email remember to check your spam folder.)

Cost
  • Parlour Collective – FREE (individuals and practices that have joined the Parlour Collective)
  • General – $25
  • Concession – $5.50 (anyone who needs it – students, those not working, part-timers etc)

We operate on an honesty system – select the ticket type that aligns with your circumstances. If you haven’t yet joined the Parlour Collective, join now to access discount pricing and many other benefits, and to support Parlour’s ongoing work!

Please purchase access below. (If the form doesn’t work on your device, head to Parlour’s trybooking page.)

Light at the End of the Tunnel is supported by our Parlour Partners. This session was held online 12.30–1.30pm AEDT, Friday 13 August 2021.

Session overview by Susie Ashworth.