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I pay my respects and acknowledge all Traditional Custodians of Country and on whose land I live and work. I recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
Always was, always will be.

Welcome to this week's useletter

focussing on your future not my past, a newsletter that's useful.

One of my bestest favouritest things to do is to chat with someone about their work and the way they see the world.

One of my least favourite things to do is invite them to meet and share.

It’s not ideal.

I'm working on it. Because the payoff is worth it.

Despite my inertial issues I've been having a lot of enjoyable, insightful and engaging conversations of late. They’re also helping test and develop my thinking around distributed leadership, the basis for my new Unmeasured business model.

I’ve been chatting with people both inside and outside the archi-bubble. And consequently been able to refine my thinking and the design of my work.

They're invaluable conversations,

and delightful.

We don't do that enough. Eking out time to build community conversations. Creating a space in which we make the time to intentionally connect with others outside of our bubble, so that we might learn and see anew.

Clearly this is a super useful exercise if you’re building a new business, promoting or developing it further. But it’s not just for business owners, it’s for everyone. For many the idea of networking is uncomfortable or insincere, but by framing it as Reaching Out, and about building connections, community and learning. And that benefits everyone.

This fortnight my Useletter is taking you on a look into the value of the Reach Out.

I got you

Michael

👉🏼 PS: if you're keen for a chat, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I am all in!

Reach Out

My outline here was originally shaped by Molly Beck’s book Reach Out: The Simple Strategy You Need to Expand Your Network and Increase Your Influence. It’s an easy, short and persuasive read. If you want a deeper dive on Reach Outs I recommend it. Note too, it’s some time since I read it and what I've written here is my approach as shaped by my original reading.

Why reach out?

Build your community (network)

Reinstate, reconnect or grow new personal connections with diverting people. It might lead to new opportunities or work. But don’t go into a conversation with that as your intention, this is simply about building community (or 'networking' if you prefer.)

Learn from someone

What an amazing opportunity to sit at the feet of someone different to you and make some time to listen and learn.

Think out loud

By discussing your ideas and beliefs, you refine and get better at talking about them. By thinking out loud you might just unearth new insights and ideas of your own.

Get outside your bubble

Staying within your bubble habituates your thinking. Chatting to people from outside your usual circle can introduce you to new ideas, perspectives or ways of thinking. Challenging your status quo and finding new ways into problems and their solutions.

Make a friend

How cool is it to make new friends? At the very least you’ll make a new connection.

The basics

Do one reach out a day, or five per week - whatever works. That’s roughly 260 a year.

Know that a decent proportion won’t respond. You might only get a 20% acceptance and that’s OK. It’s one meetup a week, which is still pretty decent and should be manageable. It’s not all about numbers, it’s about quality. Don’t get disheartened if many don’t respond or accept. Keep going.

It's not about you. What can you offer them? It might be feedback on something interesting you read or saw of theirs. The offer to meet isn’t about selling them something. It must come from a place of generosity.

People love to help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And don’t be afraid of a no.

Ask for introductions to people worth connecting to. Worth asking whether you get an acceptance or apology.

Remember the worst thing that can happen is they say no or don’t respond. And even when a chat doesn’t go well the worst case is usually only a waste of 30 minutes on a dull conversation over mediocre coffee. However, I’m yet to have a bad experience. I don’t think there’s been one occasion that I haven’t got some value out of a Reach Out. Hopefully the same could be said for those I met with.

Experiment with it

That’s your job for the next fortnight. If you have any amazing tweaks, insights or ideas, I’d love to hear them. Go go go!

You got this.

Let's chat

At unmeasured I take the argh out of architectural practice.

Helping architects rethink and find joy in their practice.

I'd love to hear your story. Book a free 30 minute chat now.

Book me in!

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