In Roma
I have been in Rome this week doing market research for a global/regional client. It’s been a mix of days spent behind mirrored glass, and late evenings in local restaurants getting to know each other.
Having secured a few hours one evening my two angels of clients (both Italian) forced me to walk Roma, taking in Parliaments after Parliament, copious coffees and cobbled streets filled with chit-chat and random historical facts. We walked for ages, dedicated to strolling, our only purpose filling time.
For me it’s been really sacred – frankly rather touching. It seems too rare to really have down time to blur the boundaries between hourly rates and working with mates. It’s made me ponder about the ‘usual’ relationship, and the structures that we should put in place to help build teams beyond briefs and POs but at a higher more human level. We are pretty good at mixing business and pleasure here at Hive. But it struck me this week that it’s the bits in between work that really make for a good relationship and the sharing of common interests that drive genuine partnership.
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