The Research and Learning Services team welcomed Ruth Miller, Learning and Development Delivery Specialist, to their weekly meeting this morning. Ruth led the team through a quiz about the Annual Review process, which focused the attendees on how to get the best out of their ADR, reminding them what it is and what it is not, and impressing its importance to all concerned!

She then introduced the team, in pairs, to an exercise in which one person would draw something and the other try to draw the same thing- with their backs to one another, and only the first person allowed to speak, describing what they’re drawing. The idea was that this would promote the importance of the reviewer setting clear objectives, and communicating the big picture to the reviewee. It also showed how easy it is to go off in another direction if you don’t communicate well, and how hard it is to collaborate effectively if you can’t have a two-way discussion.

With ADRs coming up shortly, obviously this was very timely, so thanks to Ruth for giving up some of her time for us. Many thanks, also, to Claire Knowles for organising it.

Houses by Ianthe Sutherland and Robin Taylor; bescarved persons by Malcolm Brown and Kerry Miller; paper aeroplane by Theo Andrew; scrunched ball by Norman Rodger.