Blindspot Busters

Jonathan came up from Gisborne a couple of weeks ago. We had a lot to discuss, so as is usual for us, we did a lot of driving. There was a lot of people to see, a lot of information to gather, and for the most part it was very successful. Where it wasn’t however was with the local offices for our MPs. In terms of accessibility the winners were definitely the Greens. They had an intercom where a person you could actually hear answered. Her contact details are very clear and prominent. There is no campaign information. It is clear and direct. Second place goes to Labour. They had contact details and an intercom (that did not work). Last place definitely goes to National. Simeon Brown. He’s just down the road from my new house and there was absolutely no way to get a hold of him or his team when I rocked up there this week. I just wanted to present an invitation. Nothing serious…

So it got me thinking about open door policies and how they differ across the country. And when I mixed it up with my own experience, I ended up with loose tiers of how ‘open’ open doors should be. This is my perspective once again, I would love to hear yours. Leave a comment!

The Commons – Don’t be a ‘brickhead’
So my favourite place to hang out, The Lumsden, has the above policy. I think it is fantastic. Every where I go I believe this is common reasonable decency. The key thing I think is different about this to what everyone might see is the norm is that you are given the benefit of the doubt first. They will assume you have read the policy and won’t be a dick. So no matter what you have to ask, that is the approach they take…. until you cross the line. And then you’ve been warned and are punished accordingly. Thankfully that doesn’t happen much. However, this is a public space, and to me it seems like a good rule to have on common ground.

There are lots of places like this up and down the country. The freehouse map of Auckland has a number of my favourite places in the 09. I love Smash Palace, Sunshine and the Fishing Club in Gizzy. There are cool places everywhere.

The libraries are also great shared spaces where you can access what you need. The staff in pretty much every library I have been to have been super friendly. It is a great place to ask for directions if you don’t know your way around.

The Office – Always be ‘Reasonable’
I did this absolutely amazing course through Screensafe on Professional Respect. I think it should be taught in high schools. It simplifies appropriate workplace behaviour to a half day workshop with cool activities and lots of opportunity for networking and socialising. (Thank you Kelly!) Essentially, you need to treat the other people in the office with respect. Beyond that, you need to be ‘reasonable’. It is okay for you to have some of your needs met as long as you are willing to meet the needs of the other people around you too.

For pretty much my entire adult life I have been a contractor, which means I have worked in a lot of amazing offices. There was the film production accounting office where my boss had a stamp that read “f*ck you very f*cking much” (without the stars), there was the council international relations office where they covered my desk with balloons and lovely messages on my birthday, there was the mental health workplace development office where the admin staff had weekly meetings in which we could vent and receive support. I’ve worked in some not so good ones too, it just makes me appreciate the good ones more and strive to build that type of environment everywhere I go to the best of my ability.

The Store – I always support my friends
So anyone who follows me on socials (@nikkijaynenz) will know that one of my favourite stores is Stolen Girlfriends Club. Every time I go in there it is like catching up with my friends. Any I tend to spend my money at my friends stores. I like to show support for the people who get me and support me. I have a Stolen Girlfriends leather jacket that I purchased for Martin Phillipps. My personal leather jacket comes from Smoove. I purchased it almost 20 years ago now with a 50% off voucher. My bestie used to work there, so the boss questioned my voucher, afraid she had she given it to me. He asked what I purchased in the store to earn the voucher. “It would probably be quicker to tell you what I don’t own, cause I have two of almost everything.” He allowed me to use the voucher. It was clear I had dropped a sizeable chunk of my paycheque in the store every week. Of course I had. I got to hang out with my bestie and buy new clothes. A two for one.

In terms of how to build repeat custom, treating your customers as friends who will return is a very good way to generate a loyal following. Just saying, that is what works for me.

What are you so afraid of?
I appreciate it has been a while since I was working in politics, and then it was only local body, but I am starting to wonder if we have a different definition of what a politician’s job is. My understanding of what I a politician does is mainly, listen to the people. They hear the people’s problems and then represent the people inside the rooms where the decisions about how the country runs are made. How can you represent the people if the people are unable to reach you?

One of my favourite movies is V for Vendetta. As much as I appreciate that people shouldn’t be afraid of their government, governments should be afraid of their people, I would have hardly thought we were at that point. The way I see it, the only way our country is going to get through the current mess we are in is by working together, and it’s pretty hard to work together if everyone is hiding behind locked doors.

Maybe it’s just me? Let me know your thoughts.