Cassie's sliding doors moment
By Allen Palmer
Cassie, a senior public servant, enrolled herself in a plain language workshop to improve her reviewing efficiency, but she was detained by an unruly edit and missed it.
Well, one of her did. In an alternate universe, another Cassie concluded that it made no sense to let inefficiency keep her from a workshop designed to address it. She attended, then sent her entire team.
A year on, let’s compare the pair. Same name. Same age. Same level.
Contrast their diaries to see how this Sliding Doors moment changed Cassie’s typical day. Actually, half-day. Because we catch up on her birthday, and she has plans for lunch.
Cassie who missed the workshop
Cassie who attended the workshop
7.00: Gym
So rarely do this. So busy.
7.00: Gym
So rarely do this. So busy.
Well, not anymore. So lazy.
7.35: Green report alarm
Alex is sick, hasn’t finished her report and I’m seeing new Secretary at 11.
Need to get across this, and the report’s long.
Workout can wait.
No way I’m missing that lunch. Again.
7.35: Green report hiccup
Alex is sick, hasn’t finished her report and I’m seeing new Secretary at 11.
But I’ve read her summary and scanned all her subheadings. Looks close to our plan.
No excuse not to resume that workout. Dang!
8.00: Green report mystery
What she’s written is fine, but I have no clue what she’ll conclude.
Should I call her and ask? I shouldn’t.
But do. Alex’s husband is not happy. Says Alex needs complete rest.
Maybe I can push back that meeting with the new Sec?
8.00: Green report intel
Guess who was getting off the Peloton bike as I was getting back on? (Redacted)!
He knows the new Sec well and gave me some intel.
I now know what she’ll object to and have an argument that might persuade her.
If gym were always this useful, I’d go more often.
8.30: Graduate looks unhappy
At the team breakfast, Chris barely acknowledged me. What’s up there?
8.30: Graduate looks unhappy
Blackwater brief rewrite?
9.00: White paper trauma
4 of 9 contributors haven’t delivered.
Claimed they ‘didn’t see’ the due date in the email, but it was bolded in the very last paragraph. How could they miss it?!?
Hope the quality is better than the punctuality.
9.00: White paper tracking
8 of 9 contributors have delivered, and Sylvie had a decent excuse. She went into labour on Thursday.
There’s minimal overlap between sections and the structure – with one exception – looks good. Jed still clings to his academic ways. We’ll chat.
9.30: Green report concern
Can’t push meeting back.
But I’m sure I can wing it.
9.30: Goal setting for new year
This is a first.
In fact, when I told Darren I was doing this today, he said, ‘Who are you and what have you done with my wife?’
10.00: White paper tragedy
Reviewed all their contributions. OMG.
Massive overlap between sections and the tone varies wildly.
No, sorry. I am not taking over.
Have assigned Yael to fix.
10.00: White paper feedback
Asked Jed if he thought readers would wade through his detail.
He said they should. I asked if he thought (stakeholder) would? That did the trick.
Who knew feedback could be fun?
10.30: Blackwater brief knocked back
Minister said reasoning was weak. Not true. She mustn’t have read it!
We’ll get this. We have to.
But the delay will hurt.
10.30: Blackwater brief approved
Big tick for our logic!
10.55: Graduate in tears
Must check on Chris when I get the chance.
10.55: Graduate in tears
Must walk Chris through that edit.
11.00: Tough meeting with new Sec
Doesn’t want Alex’s sickness to slow things down. Said we should already have agreed on the conclusion.
I explained that we used the draft to clarify our thinking, and this didn’t go down well. She pointed out it was a very inefficient way of working. Wants structure on her desk by 5pm.
11.00: Tough meeting with new Sec
But beneficial.
My intel helped keep things moving.
But Sec pointed out another issue we need to address.
Fortunately, Alex can accommodate this within the existing structure.
12.00: White paper inquisition
Yael had stacks of questions and I did my best to answer them.
Normally, I’d just take over.
But there’s no way I’m missing that lunch.
12.00: Checked on Chris
It was the rewrite. Said me stepping in had sapped his confidence.
I said I normally wouldn’t do that, but we ran out of time. Apologised. Said I should have made time to talk him through the changes. Then we did that.
Stepping through the why – and not just the what – makes a huge difference.
12.30: Green report handover
Considered checking if Alex might be back this afternoon … but thought better of it.
Still, no way I’m picking this up!
Have briefed Yousuf to take over.
12.30: White paper polish
Reviewed Jed’s revision. Structure much improved.
Worked through some language quibbles.
Done. Dusted.
1.00: White paper takeover
Yael had more questions, so conceded, finally, it was easier to finish it myself.
Darren not happy, but what else could I have done?
He’s off to lunch alone.
1.00: Big birthday lunch
Darren had organised a few of our friends to meet us at my favourite place.
For once, I made it!
1.05: Green report fallout
Email from new Sec. Wants me to do plain language training.
No idea how that could help with planning or structure, but, of course, I’ve said that I will.
When I find the time.
Want to make it to your own birthday lunch this year? Sign up for our reviewing workshop.
