Storytelling and presenting utilise silence as a powerful tool. Pauses enhance storytelling by allowing breath, clarifying meaning, emphasising words, conveying emotion, and maintaining rhythm. Different types of pauses exist—breath, emphatic, end line, and caesural—each serving to enrich communication. Effective speech often relies on the strategic use of silence.

Effective communication hinges on clarity and conviction, merging the art of articulation with impactful storytelling. Articulation shapes speech through proper pronunciation of vowels and consonants, enhancing engagement. Mastering this allows speakers to deliver memorable narratives, using practical tips like pacing, tone variation, and personal connections to leave a lasting impression.

The author reflects on inheriting a notebook from their late grandmother, an elocution teacher. Her notes emphasise the importance of speaking clearly and confidently, offering timeless insights fo…

Technology thrives on human creativity, curiosity, and passion. While machines process data, it is humans who ask profound questions, redefining possibilities. Innovation emerges through radical inquiries, collaboration, and fearless experimentation. AI serves as an ally in this creative journey, enhancing human ingenuity and enabling breakthroughs. Ultimately, it’s our imagination that shapes the future.

The NCSC Annual Review 2025 emphasises that cyber risk has become a leadership issue requiring strategic action. Utilising Enterprise Architecture and ArchiMate can help to enhance organisational resilience. By mapping systems, understanding interconnections, and documenting relationships, organisations can better manage risks, respond effectively, and comply with security and governance standards.

In today's work environment, finding quiet time is challenging yet essential for productivity and well-being. Dedicating uninterrupted moments enhances focus, fosters deep thinking, reduces stress, improves decision-making, and boosts creativity. By intentionally scheduling quiet periods and creating a conducive space, individuals can enjoy significant professional and personal benefits.

Mental clutter significantly impacts creativity, decision-making, and emotional clarity, leading to diminished productivity and team dynamics. It arises from unresolved thoughts and distractions, making focus challenging. Adopting strategies like externalizing thoughts, cognitive offloading, and embracing mindfulness can help reduce mental clutter, fostering a more productive and engaged working environment.

Casual conversations, or "Video Chat Moments," enrich workplace dynamics by fostering unstructured dialogue that encourages creativity and idea exchange. These interactions build trust and relationships among colleagues, enhancing collaboration. Informal discussions provide a space for diverse perspectives, personal reflection, and creative problem-solving, ultimately supporting well-being and productivity in a remote work environment.

Enterprise Architecture (EA) fosters innovation by aligning technology with business goals. It enhances collaboration and exposes inefficiencies across an organization. Coupled with a design mindset, it encourages experimentation and resilience, enabling sustainable change and adaptation in dynamic environments. Organisations can thrive by integrating these frameworks into their culture and strategies.

The United Kingdom (UK) Government’s newly published Compute Roadmap sets out a bold vision for transforming the nation’s computing infrastructure. As digital needs grow in fields like Analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), Quantum, and climate modelling, the roadmap details how the UK will expand its computing power to stay competitive and technologically independent. The roadmap has a focus on compute power which is a fundamental basis of the paper to contemporary innovation.

The journey of a technologist parallels the epic tale of Homer's Odyssey, marked by exploration, challenges, and collaboration. Just as Odysseus faced adversities, technologists navigate the complexities of innovation fueled by curiosity and purpose. Both journeys emphasize growth through perseverance and the importance of teamwork in achieving meaningful outcomes.

The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) establishes cybersecurity standards for software, including open source, effective from December 10, 2024, with full enforcement by December 11, 2027. The Linux Foundation offers a course on the CRA, providing valuable insights and resources for software creators and distributors, culminating in a digital badge.

Quantum computing advancements necessitate a shift to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) due to threats to current systems. The NCSC released a migration timeline with key milestones for organisations, emphasizing the need for early planning and potential external support. Strategies include in-place migration, re-platforming, or risk tolerance. Completion is expected by 2035.

There has been a lot in the news recently on AI standards and whilst watching a recent panel discussion on the Global State of AI standardisation on YouTube I picked up on the announcement of a course from AIQI Course on ISO/IEC 42001. The course is aimed at Implementation Teams and Senior Leadership, however I would recommend this course having just completed it myself to anyone interested in AI and wanting to know more about the standard.

This week is "Charted Week" (24th to 28th Feb 2025) and it is an opportune moment to reflect on what it means to be chartered in the IT industry and why other IT professionals should consider this significant step in their careers. It’s Chartered Week! Let’s celebrate Chartered practice and the people, organisations and registrations that are raising standards of competence and ethics across society today.

Enterprise Architecture (EA) aligns technology initiatives with business goals, fostering innovation by creating a structured roadmap. It supports agile and digital transformation, optimizes resource utilization, enhances collaboration, and effectively manages risks. By promoting continuous improvement, EA ensures organizations remain responsive to innovation opportunities, driving sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

Following on from my recent post on PKMS (Personal Knowledge Management System) and (20 Informative Podcasts for 2025: Boost Your PKMS) I am next listing 30 sites that are in my Feedly feed. There are a lot more that I use and this is a snapshot of a few of them.

Under pressure, we don't rise to our expectations but fall back on our training. This principle underscores the importance of consistent practice across various fields, from IT security to athletics. By building resilience through preparation, we create a solid foundation that helps us respond effectively during crises, enhancing performance and adaptability.

Humility might seem like an unusual trait to emphasise in a field driven by hard data and cutting-edge advancements. However, it is humility that fosters a culture of learning and adaptability. When tech professionals recognise that they don’t have all the answers, they become more open to new ideas and perspectives. This openness is essential for innovation and problem-solving. Humility is the quality of having a modest view of one's own importance.

It is good to see that the Chronodex is still going strong with the release of the first half of the year 2025 version now available. The Chronodex is a clock-shaped calendar designed to help you visualise and manage your time more effectively.

The post shares a curated podcast list for 2025 alongside current listens, highlighting various topics such as innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. Recommended titles include "Impulse to Innovation," "The Pitch," and "TED Talks Daily." The author emphasizes enjoying podcasts during dog walks or travel, inviting suggestions for additional titles.

Adaptability isn't just a skill—it's a survival instinct for technologists. From rapidly shifting industry trends to the emergence of innovative technologies, the ability to pivot, learn, and integrate new knowledge is what sets successful technologists apart.

The Continuous Professional Development (CPD) cycle involves identifying, planning, learning, reflecting, communicating, measuring impact, and planning for future growth. By systematically assessing learning needs aligned with professional goals, documenting activities, and sharing knowledge, professionals can enhance their skills, improve job performance, and foster a culture of continuous development in their fields.

As 2025 begins, I am again updating my PKMS (Personal Knowledge Management System) to keep up with the latest developments in knowledge management and my own priorities. One of the key habits that I have been focusing on is micro learning by taking opportunities where I may have spent time scrolling a device, turning the time to be more productive through spending the time on learning and AI is playing a part in this.

The content highlights the vital role of creativity in driving technological innovation across various fields, including software development, user-friendly interfaces, digital content, and education. As technology advances, it intertwines with creativity to enhance user experiences, produce compelling narratives, and promote dynamic learning environments, ultimately shaping a more innovative future.