As St David’s Day approached, I was thinking about the most famous words attributed to our patron saint , “Do the little things”…
How can we interpret that in the context of our profession? You don’t need me to tell you that it’s so often the smallest things that make the biggest difference, especially around creating a supportive work culture… things like recognising every individual’s role in the business – whether a SME or a large corporate… creating a safe space to connect in our new hybrid world… celebrating small wins.
How can we interpret that in the context of “good work”? With my CIPD hat on, I’m currently working on a number of projects which are very small drops in the ocean, but which have the potential to make an impact on the lives of individuals across Wales, be that through a campaign to support people from under-represented groups into employment, advice and guidance for employers to spot the sometimes subtle signs of in-work poverty, and encouraging employers to join nearly 400 Wales-based Living Wage Accredited employers.
How can we interpret that in the context of what’s happening in the Ukraine? While March 1st is a day of celebration across Wales, the atrocities taking place less than 3000 miles away cannot pass unmentioned. On a personal level, this quote (Elie Wiesl) spoke to me over the weekend: There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest”. And until we’re clearer on how we can help in terms of practical aid, maybe that’s the only “little thing” we can do.