During this listening session, we set out to talk about leadership responsibilities, however, our attendees brought their own agenda—rich with opinions, ideas, and challenges that stretched beyond the planned discussion. I figured a quick summary just wouldn’t cut it, so giving you a glimpse at my 'Dear Diary' entry instead—it's a heartfelt look back at the day.
Dear Diary,
October 24th was a gorgeous day, and that meant people in Brussels, and rightly so, enjoyed the sun; some still showed up. Though I first fretted over ordering too much pizza, the lively conversations took off, my concerns vanished—and soon after, so did the pizza. (Note to self: never worry about too much pizza).
I started the session as a pro and with my usual spiel, let’s talk about how EU bosses can provide a safe, seen and supported work environment so that we can all deliver our best work. However, this group of attendees had their own agenda, and it was brilliant. Most had a lot to say about where A Better Brussels could head next.
They gave me a lot to ponder on—like not biting off more than we can chew—because this initiative is shaping up to have a much broader, more meaningful impact than I first imagined.
We dove into some serious reflections on what those attending would like A Better Brussels to stand for. It's clear that I need to evaluate if we're providing enough training opportunities and whether our approach should focus more on naming and shaming or uplifting as a positive force that highlights exemplary leaders.
There's also talk of forging partnerships with like-minded organisations. That could really amplify what we're doing and weave our efforts into a larger tapestry of change.
What should come out of the listening sessions? Possibly “10 recommendations for EU bosses”? that the group brainstormed could be solid gold. But would those that need convincing read those, or should I be reaching out to Vlerick Business School or Solvay, because they’ve, their attention? Could the 10 recommendations then be the start of something like a workshop for bosses so that they can also share their messages with their teams too. But do they not do that already, in their professional space?
All in all, the session was a reminder that every shared story matters and the EU policymaking space is full of such incredible talent and folks have a serious drive to do things better. Here's to the journey ahead, diary. Let's see where this path takes us! I’ve got some thinking to do and will be back with more.
Photos by Romain Triollet 👇
A huge thank you to all the participants. Your openness and the support you showed to fellow attendees helped shape these discussions. You came, shared your story, listened to others, and were open to collaboratively exploring how EU bosses can do better. (Glimpse into the September session). Chantam House Rule always applies.