So she took me to the first-aid room on the ground floor.

I was back in the office in an hour with a little bleeding out of one nostril. But this personal misfortune did not bother me at all. Instead I was more concerned with the internal communications workshop and how to make it as impactful as possible.

I’ve drawn up a list of forty or so ideas that I will discuss with Preeti tomorrow. Maybe add a few more before I go to sleep.

I am so excited about this workshop!

28 August 2006

9.10 p.m.

I emailed all my suggestions to Preeti—two lists, one alphabetical and the other grouped by ideas: newsletters, skits, online/websites, company anthems, T-shirts and apparel, film and photograph, and sports/physical activities.

She did not email back all day. But that does not surprise me. My email will take time to digest. Some of my ideas are pretty out of the box. I particularly like the plan where the entire firm goes on a week-long trekking trip to Ladakh or maybe Yercaud and then every night—we camp out in the wilderness only—one member of the senior staff can conduct talks and informal lectures. I am also all for the compulsory presentation series where each day, after work, one member of the staff has to make a small presentation on a few internal communications-related topics.

I have seen how some of the consultants have little regard for team-building exercises. It will need very strict, organized planning and execution to get them all involved in the workshop.

Tomorrow, I’ll attend the first planning-team meeting. I’ve sent Preeti an email asking her if there is any homework or background research I need to do before I turn up for the meeting. I have some of my organizational theory and business communications course material on a CD. Perhaps I should casually flip through it and refresh myself.

The meeting is at the Hard Rock Café.

11 p.m.

I couldn’t sleep so I was thinking of different ways of improving internal communications. How about an online knowledge management portal where employees can discuss and share ideas on consulting or even things of personal interest? This could even replace the print employee newsletter—Knowing Me, Knowing You—with a more eco-friendly electronic edition.

In fact I think it is a very cool idea. Should I tell Preeti tomorrow or call and tell her right now while it is still fresh in my mind? Is it too late to call?

11.20 p.m.

‘Never bottle up a fantastic idea just because the situation is not right to discuss it with someone as soon as you think of it and it is fresh in your mind’ is one of my strictest personal principles.

So I called Preeti and told her about my online portal idea.

She was quiet for a while and then hung up after thanking me.

Maybe she was sleepy. Maybe she was blown away by my concept.

I think it was the latter.