Start of the week #1 - The Power Of the Monday Morning Meeting

In some of the best companies I’ve worked for, there’s been a Monday morning meeting for all staff and freelancers. It’s always been a standing meeting, not just in the usual sense, but in the literal "everyone-stands-up" kind of way where one or a few people from the leadership team talk about the week ahead covering the business, bigger industry news, staff birthdays, new starters, leavers, and otherwise. It’s been called various things, from ‘Monday morning meeting’, to ‘Start of the week’.

I’ve always really enjoyed and valued those Monday morning meetings. They create a regular time every week where you gather with colleagues, chat about this, that, and the other before and after the meeting, usually coffee in hand, and you get brought up to speed with what’s happening in the company that coming week.

That update and the meeting, in general, add so much value. It’s not just a routine part of the week—it’s a moment that brings everyone together and reminds them of the bigger picture.

The meeting is valuable for so many reasons, but here are three reasons that stand out to me:

• It fosters belonging and nurtures company culture. When everyone is invited and the leadership team takes the time to speak directly to everyone in the company, be they employees or freelancers, it shows that each person matters. It’s a simple but powerful way to build connections and reinforce a sense of belonging.
• It increases knowledge sharing and helps create a shared vision. Hearing updates on all clients and projects – not just the ones we’re working on – helps everyone understand the bigger picture. It often sparks conversations about overlaps and creates opportunities for synergies and collaboration.
• It acknowledges employees. Introducing new starters or recognising those who are leaving ensures people feel seen and valued. These small moments of acknowledgement have a big impact on how connected and appreciated people feel.

All of these meetings that I’ve been part of took place in a time before Covid and in companies with less than 150 people. I don’t know how common they still are but in the really good companies, the Monday morning meetings were great so I hope they’ve kept them going, in some format.

The meeting also served as a way to mark the start of the week and that I quite liked so I thought I’d do my own version of ‘start of the week’ with a slightly different purpose – a round-up of what I’ve come across recently that I believe can help or inspire you, and also a short summary of what I’m up to. The latter is less about me but more about the reflections the things I’m up to sparks with regard to UX, storytelling, personal development, running a business, motherhood, and more.

Still though, all with the hope of helping you get off to a good start of the week.

???Things AI & Storytelling

The intersection between AI & storytelling, and more specifically in relation to UX design and presentation skills is something I’m increasingly focusing on. Each week I’ll share three links – something to listen to, something useful, and something good to read. Here are this week’s links:

• (Listen) Mastering AI in Product Management: Insights and Strategies with John Haggerty https://podcasts.apple.com/se/podcast/future-of-ux-your-design-tech-and-user/id1480706373?i=1000670774732 I discovered this podcast last year and though this episode is a few months old, I highly recommend it. It’s a conversation between the host Patricia Reiners? and John Haggerty about the intersection of AI, product management, and design. One that had me stop more than once whilst on my walk so that I could capture quotes and notes from their conversation. Like the importance of structure and methodology when it comes to prompting, which is very closely aligned with good storytelling.
• (Useful) The Shape of AI https://www.shapeof.ai/ This is a brilliant resource curated by Emily Campbell , also described on the website as ‘The UX of AI’. Whether you’re a UXer or not, The Shape of AI provides a good overview, introduction and source to turn to for various UX patterns when it comes to AI. Each one is clearly structured with an overview, variations in the pattern (where applicable), when to use them, and not the least considerations, both positives and potential risks.
• (Read) Say Hello to Sentient Design https://bigmedium.com/ideas/hello-sentient-design.html Since around the time I started freelancing I’ve been really excited about the possibilities of more tailored experiences for users as a way to deliver less one-size-fits-all and more of what specific users actually need/ will help them along their particular journey. ‘Intelligent’ captures some of it but when Josh Clark and the guys at Big Medium last year started talking, teaching and writing about ‘sentient design’ they hit the nail on the head. My bet is that the term ‘sentient design’ is going to be almost as widespread as ‘responsive design’ and if you’re new to it, this post is a good introduction.

???Things I’ve added to my list

• (Book) The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins. https://www.melrobbins.com/letthemtheory I’ve been listening to Mel Robbins podcast for a while and as someone who tends to care a bit too much about stuff that I should really just let go of, this book sounds like it might be for me. I’m guessing that when you read about it, it might speak to some of you too. It's essentially about how the two words 'Let them' will help you set free from trying to manage everything and everyone around you. It gives me some 'The subtle art of not giving a fuck' vibes but we'll see if that holds true. I'm excited to read it.

???Things that resonate

• An insta post on how nature rests during winter This week I’m leaving it to one thing and that is related a post I saw over on Instagram that pointed out that no flower blooms all year around and that during winter nature rests and so should we. Though January may be the start of a fresh new year, is probably a better time for embracing rest than it is for kicking off lots of new things just because the calendar says 1 January. So if you’ve set yourself some goals and already fallen behind, that’s ok. Use the month to rest, reflect and recharge. The Self Space did a little poem that is related to this called ‘Now is really not the time’. https://www.instagram.com/p/DEW1cIbzzvG/?img_index=1

????Things I’m working on this week

• Doing my personal retro. I stopped with New years resolutions a while back and instead I’m doing a retro, either at the end of the year, or like now, at the start of the new year where I look back at the year that was and identify what I want to do more of, less of, keep doing, start doing, and not the least stop doing. I wrote a post with some instructions and a template a while back you can find it here if you want to give it a go. https://www.annadahlstrom.com/doing-a-retro-and-setting-your-intentions-for-autumn/
• Scheduling more focus time. Today is the first day back to work for us here in Sweden (yesterday was a holiday). Last year I was at one point working in four teams at the same time, meaning I had four of every meeting - four dailys, four retros, four planning meetings etc. Though I skipped some meetings the result was still a very fragmented calendar and constant context switch. Together with two young kids at home who constantly ask questions, want help, or me to look at something, it all led me, for the first time, to feel mentally exhausted and like I couldn’t finish a line of thought whilst at work, or at home. So as I come back very well rested after the holidays (mostly thanks to the kids and me having been ill since Christmas Day), I’m going to take as much ownership of my calendar as I can and skip some meetings and block out focus time where I can. Initially without adding 'Focus time' to my calendar as that just makes it feel like yet another meeting. Anyone resonate? Or have a good solution?
• Pondering where to publish my newsletter. This is new. I don’t yet know where this will live or how I’ll “send” it – just use LinkedIn, Substack, Mailchimp or similar?! No idea. To be honest, I almost didn’t publish it this morning as part of me wants to have this bit figured out before I start but instead of letting this stop me - or not being able to make proper line breaks here - I’m starting on LinkedIn. It doesn't have to be perfect. I hope 'perfect' doesn't stop you in your stride.

That's it for this week. I hope you've gotten some value out of it. If so I'd love for you to hit that subscribe button.