Creating an effective peer network

In his book Rebel Ideas Matthew Syed talks at length about the dangers of surrounding yourself with clones or individuals that exist within your information bubble. He uses one particular example: that of the creation of the English Football Association's Technical Board. Rather than filling it with football (soccer) luminaries, the FA recruited senior leaders from other sports and the military. They did, of course, face significant criticism, but as Matthew writes:

Diverse groups express radically different properties. It was fascinating to see how people who were not expert in football were nevertheless able to pierce through to some of the underlying weaknesses, whether in recruitment or coaching methods, or bring a fresh perspective to media relations or preparing for a penalty shoot-out. Rebel ideas were often rejected. Exchanges were robust. But these almost always led to divergent thinking and more sophisticated solutions.

There is actually a term for 'sticking with your own crowd'. It is homophily and basically means 'staying where it is comfortable'. However, the danger is that you can only be influenced by people who think the same way you do, who have similar knowledge and probably share the same perspective. Less echo chamber and more information bubble it is still an unhealthy place to be if you need to influence people who don't share your view of the world.

This is often where data protection, privacy, compliance and governance professionals find themselves. Within our peer networks we can talk comfortably about the legal and operational issues we face, but without the will of senior personnel on boards, engagement of key stakeholders or some serious legislation in place it can be almost impossible to get anyone else to hear, let alone listen and act.

In addition, there is so much information in play at any one time. From new judgements issued by European DPAs, case law, guidance, commentary from law practices and general chatter, an individual's inbox can sometimes feel like it is under assault. Finding best practice in this deluge is difficult, not least because much of this comes from commercial organisations as a sales tool. Articles that might have gone through an editorial process are contained within academic journals that are too expensive for limited company or individual budgets or are based on minutiae of the law too esoteric for the general practitioner.

The idea of creating a peer network has been fermenting for quite some time. The current 'pause' has enabled proper conversations to take place and the support of the fabulous team at DP Organizer provided the deadlines and the push required to make it happen. There is still a long way to go - but now at least the manifesto for the network is published (see below!) and we have our first event scheduled for 2nd July 2020.

?The Privacy+Compliance Peer Network - a manifesto

Having a strong network of people who speak your language, know the same stuff as you, can offer advice and direction is incredibly powerful. This is particularly true for data protection, privacy, compliance and governance professionals, who can sit on the fringes of organisations and may be seen as ballast rather than balance.

Sharing best practice that has been moderated, commented, tweaked and refined by knowledgeable individuals is a rising tide that lifts all boats. Doing this in an accessible way is not so easy. Finding templates, resources and ideas that are both credible and open source is difficult. Having a neutral platform in which to illustrate expertise, whether this be on whole tranches of legislation or on the design and delivery of a particular type of training would be beneficial to the many and the few.

The Privacy+Compliance Peer Network aims to grow to be all of these things: a supportive network of well-informed individuals willing to share their practice and knowledge and critique that of others in a supportive manner; a place for discussion, development and support; and most importantly for encouraging diversity of thinking by engaging with experts from outside the privacy+compliance environment.

What's next?

We are starting as we (hopefully) mean to go on, with a short online event that will enable personal networking with people you may already know, and hopefully a few that you don't, as well as hearing from the fabulous Kristy Grant-Hart. Kristy is going to talk about how to motivate people to do what you want them to do from a compliance perspective based on what motivates them. If you are having a hard time getting traction with your stakeholders then this is definitely for you.

In due course there will be an online environment where anyone who has something they would like to share with the network may do so - it's a work in progress and will be guided by the network itself as it grows. If you want to join, contribute or guide the path that this takes do get in touch.

And finally...

Thanks to all those who have listened to me talk about doing this, nodded sagely and told me to get on with it: Abigail Dubiniecki, Suze Phillips, Suzanne Dibble, Amanda Williams, Tash Whitaker, Yvonne Morris, Arrienne Stanyon and everyone on the DPOaaS slack group.

Also to Simon Neal, Shane McGoldrick and Egil Bergenlind from DP Organizer who gave me a deadline and made me get on with it.