Dave B. and I launched* Max Disclosure in 2017 to share lessons, and help PAOs start discussions about culture, communication, and this important career field.
Some of our posts have started more discussions than others. The responses to “Put Down the Camera” are still among my favorites. When we see these discussions, we sometimes get involved. Occasionally I’ll plug Max Disclosure on Facebook, but we tend to avoid Facebook discussions because they take negative, disrespectful turns. The commentary on Twitter, on the other hand, is generally informed and civil. We’re doing more on LinkedIn, thanks to Deb Richardson.
I appreciated the Twitter commentary on one of our latest posts, “Fight the Perception that It’s About You.” Some of y’all really liked it, some didn’t. This is healthy. The conversations showed we have an audience of people who (a) will proudly defend the career field as it is, and (b) expect even more from themselves and one another. That’s super cool.
We aren’t all supposed to agree. In the best discussions, all participants take their own position.
In the spirit of starting discussions, Tim Raymond turned a short Twitter exchange into a solid blog post about the PAO’s role as a personal staff leader and as an ambassador to the media. Read it, and maybe even discuss that one, too.
What I didn’t expect, when we started Max Disclosure, was the value I’d personally find in putting my perspectives and lessons into writing. Much like any PAG or statement, the practice of articulating nuanced ideas so that others understand and share them is productive. Sometimes it’s maddening. Often, it’s enlightening. I know where I stand and how to speak to others about things like communication, staff relationships, and operational focus because I’ve written about it.
Along that line, I hope the discussions we share help you do the same.
Please keep reading, and please keep having discussions about our content. Maybe we’ll take a look or participate on social media. Maybe you’d rather send us a note or a direct message. Maybe you’ll write sweet guest posts and send them our way. More importantly, maybe you’ll talk to your teams about the concepts we write about and figure out what’s applicable or different for your organization.**
Thank you.
(Photo by Staff Sgt. Araceli Donaldson, DVIDS)
*I’m breaking my own rule. I know nobody cares about the origin story.
**Consider our book, from which we make no profit, as a team professional development read.
