Articles

By Sean Tully

I wouldn’t usually follow a group of strangers into an underground car park. On this occasion, my hesitancy was less about the company I was in, than about the direction we were heading.

I’d joined a Walk and Talk session organised by ACEVO in my home city of Nottingham. About a dozen charity heads from the East and West Midlands were being led on a tour of some of the sites of note, and our first stopping point was apparently down an alley, through a car park basement, off the beaten track. Our guide was one of the ACEVO staff members, herself from Sheffield. She reassured me that she’d completed a recce in advance, but having lived in and around Nottingham for nearly 30 years, I wasn’t convinced there was anything of interest in this part of town.

On the other hand, I was convinced that taking half a day to meet strangers was a good investment of my time. First of all, Action Planning has been a partner to ACEVO over a number of years, exhibiting at events, sponsoring initiatives and offering support to its member base. Secondly, with Action Planning’s clients, Associates and networks based around the country, the opportunity for a physical gathering on my doorstep was one not to be missed. Thirdly, in my first six (now seven) months of taking over as head of Action Planning, I’ve recognised the value of time away from my desk to think, plan, relate and connect with others, myself and my family.

Absolute clarity

On this occasion I made new connections with organisations I’d never heard of, new connections with organisations I’d previously worked with, and even reconnected with an old connection of a charity of which I used to be a Trustee. We shared experiences, discussed opportunities and challenges and, over a bite to eat, discussed the necessity of pacing our work-life balance for the long-term as CEOs.

I was reminded of an occasion several months ago where I had returned to my desk after a short family break and found sudden and absolute clarity on an issue that I had been wrestling with for some time; as if clearing my mind of all work and simply enjoying new surroundings for a few days was enough to germinate a solution.

A new way

In the case of our walking tour, an unlikely side street that looked like nothing more than a dead end opened up into a hidden, cavernous tunnel, created as a Victorian carriage-way thoroughfare from one part of the city outskirts to the centre. I was gobsmacked – we all were!

Whether you have had your summer break, are looking forward to one or, for some reason this year, haven’t set aside time to stop, I strongly advocate that you find a reason – an excuse or opportunity – to get away from your desk, alone or with others. Talk, wander, scribble or just contemplate. You might just find an unexpected route to the destination you’ve been seeking.

My thanks to Jane, Rachel and their colleagues at ACEVO for bringing us together.