At February's Work Pirates Gathering we explored the question... If we had £1M what could we do to unf*ck work? 🏴☠️😉
We've done a bit of an analysis and have come up with the following 'themes'.
1. Do our own research
Stop everything and listen first
Research of employees to build data of how fucked work is - regular, rolling programme to track sentiments and surface the issues
Do some qualitative research
ASK WHAT THEY WANT
Approach research like you would Marketing research on your customer - Who What How framework - deep dive beyond surveys to understand the drivers behind this
2. Community building
Keep building communities of work pirates to unf*ck work from the inside
Join forces with people already doing work in this space - share best practice
3. Create spaces for sharing
Work is f*cked because ..." website to gather people's accounts of their lived experience
An event for influencers and business leaders to think about what unf*cking means for them
A conference
4. Spreading the word
Guerilla marketing campaign
Share good ideas to help everyone unf*ck their environs
Buy a Pirate bus and drive around employers to spread the message
A very large banner on a plane flying over a major city.
Rum
A protest
A protest on a boat
Paint the Tyne Bridge (Newcastle) in Pirate Colours! Budget option - lasers and lights projected.
Lots of small bold steps you can take. E..g if you see a job descriptions that's shit - too narrow, prescriptive or not inclusive. Annotate it (in a fun way). Post it on LinkedIn. Show what the alternative could be
Netflix Series!
Sponsorship: celebrate and highlight the unf*cking going on
Work Pirate Awards
Community podcast / radio station
Send copies of Be More Pirate to people anonymously
Dummies guide to unf*cking work
A conference
5. Unf*cking work toolkits
Develop and deliver unf*cking workshops to empower people to unf*ck their workplaces
Unf*ck-work-in-a-box (A la Camerados)
I think we know all the rules that need breaking we'd just put lots more resources behind making them visible, showing what the alternative is training people, and making a splash
Write a book
Develop some cool (controversial!) stuff that costs money but we give away for free/make available to build traction around the idea of Unf*cking Work'
Offer leadership training and coaching because so many colleagues are promoted but are not given the skills to lead
Game installations to make people think about how institutionalised they are then send them on a journey with a treasure map to how they would like to be ideally
Self- and team agency
EQ training
Set up 'lunch & learn' sessions in as many companies as possible to bring this discussion out in the open
Pirate mentors
Pay people to second into different firms to disrupt things, upset some people and tell some hard truths
6. Be a Work Pirate
Be vocal and brave in calling out bullshit at every opportunity
Be more honest
Just do it - #doittolearnit; be the revolution we wish to see in the world
Role model respect, transparency, difficult conversations, treating people like human beings with real lives, mental health, connection....Encourage people to think for themselves
7. Ideas to unf*ck workplaces
Give people the opportunity to spend some time at work to work on what they like with whom they like
Make therapy more accessible to all
Buy a puppy for some workplaces
Mutiny!
Send the leaders away for a year and let the people doing the work run the show
Having a 'Bias Disrupter' in meetings - someone who has the role of asking awkward questions
8. Turning kids into Work Pirates
Deliver sessions educating kids and adults that anyone who is neurodivergent belongs as they are and don't have to fit in!
Make the curriculum for kids about finding out and using their strengths
Work Pirates for kids (without the bad language!)
So much we could do!
What do you think we should do first? What would you want to be involved in?
Find out more about what we're up to here!
Drop us an email ahoy@workpirates.com or join our Mutiny over on Facebook!
At our next gathering we're looking at the question... What does an unf*cked workplace look like?