Sharon O'Dea
@sharonodea.com
Consulting, writing and speaking on comms, collaboration & future of work. Cofounder Lithos Partners, DWXS and 300 Seconds. Gym bore. Takes too many photos of Amsterdam.
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Sharon O'Dea
@sharonodea.com
· 24d
Digital Communications at Work
Deliver lasting employee impact by creating an effective digital communications ecosystem that meets organizational and employee needs.
www.koganpage.com
Mine and @digitaljonathan.bsky.social's book has been submitted to the publisher.
It's out in July but now it's on pre-order, so it's all starting to feel real now. Eek!
www.koganpage.com/marketing-co...
It's out in July but now it's on pre-order, so it's all starting to feel real now. Eek!
www.koganpage.com/marketing-co...
Starmer won a thumping majority 18 months ago. He’s the PM, not whoever’s managing Watford this year.
Seven PMs in a decade is objectively ridiculous.
Seven PMs in a decade is objectively ridiculous.
Starmer has to survive 38 days to have had a longer tenure than Rishi Sunak.
If a successor were to be in place by 13th July, we'd have had 7 PMs in a decade, which, by my reckoning, is the most since the 8 of 1827-37.
If a successor were to be in place by 13th July, we'd have had 7 PMs in a decade, which, by my reckoning, is the most since the 8 of 1827-37.
February 9, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Starmer won a thumping majority 18 months ago. He’s the PM, not whoever’s managing Watford this year.
Seven PMs in a decade is objectively ridiculous.
Seven PMs in a decade is objectively ridiculous.
Love how the “caricature of me and my work” trend has turned into an informal audit of who’s ignoring their company’s ChatGPT ban.
February 8, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Love how the “caricature of me and my work” trend has turned into an informal audit of who’s ignoring their company’s ChatGPT ban.
I bought 40 tulips from my local market last weekend for €18.
Tulips from Lincolnshire on sale in a cafe/deli around the corner from my office in London for... yes, **£50** a bunch 🌷🌷😬😲
February 6, 2026 at 11:46 AM
I bought 40 tulips from my local market last weekend for €18.
This week: decisions, consequences, and the delusion that SharePoint is free.
Also: making things with my hands, uncomfortable documentaries, and fully accepting my fate as an insufferable self-promoter.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/02/02/w...
Also: making things with my hands, uncomfortable documentaries, and fully accepting my fate as an insufferable self-promoter.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/02/02/w...
February 2, 2026 at 10:22 AM
This week: decisions, consequences, and the delusion that SharePoint is free.
Also: making things with my hands, uncomfortable documentaries, and fully accepting my fate as an insufferable self-promoter.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/02/02/w...
Also: making things with my hands, uncomfortable documentaries, and fully accepting my fate as an insufferable self-promoter.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/02/02/w...
I’ve gone round to a mate’s to watch the Take That documentary and we’ve had to pause to scroll, agog, at the Epstein release.
I miss Old Twitter on occasions like this.
I miss Old Twitter on occasions like this.
January 30, 2026 at 7:56 PM
I’ve gone round to a mate’s to watch the Take That documentary and we’ve had to pause to scroll, agog, at the Epstein release.
I miss Old Twitter on occasions like this.
I miss Old Twitter on occasions like this.
Reposted by Sharon O'Dea
Last day for #CampDigital early bird tickets. An amazing lineup, including: @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social
@himal.bsky.social
@laurayarrow.bsky.social
@dasbarrett.bsky.social
@lisariemers.bsky.social
and of course @sharonodea.com returns with lightning talks
www.nexerdigital.com/camp-digital...
@himal.bsky.social
@laurayarrow.bsky.social
@dasbarrett.bsky.social
@lisariemers.bsky.social
and of course @sharonodea.com returns with lightning talks
www.nexerdigital.com/camp-digital...
Illuminating talks and bright ideas on design and digital : Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Camp Digital is an inspirational conference that brings together the digital, design and UX communities exploring the latest thinking in the tech industry
www.nexerdigital.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Last day for #CampDigital early bird tickets. An amazing lineup, including: @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social
@himal.bsky.social
@laurayarrow.bsky.social
@dasbarrett.bsky.social
@lisariemers.bsky.social
and of course @sharonodea.com returns with lightning talks
www.nexerdigital.com/camp-digital...
@himal.bsky.social
@laurayarrow.bsky.social
@dasbarrett.bsky.social
@lisariemers.bsky.social
and of course @sharonodea.com returns with lightning talks
www.nexerdigital.com/camp-digital...
Every communicator's worst nightmare: people learn of their imminent layoffs via a draft email sent out by mistake.
This, people, is why you need to do the dull governance stuff. When it works, it's invisible. When it doesn't, it's news.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This, people, is why you need to do the dull governance stuff. When it works, it's invisible. When it doesn't, it's news.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts after accidental email
The technology giant confirmed the redundancies hours after it told staff in an email sent in error.
www.bbc.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Every communicator's worst nightmare: people learn of their imminent layoffs via a draft email sent out by mistake.
This, people, is why you need to do the dull governance stuff. When it works, it's invisible. When it doesn't, it's news.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This, people, is why you need to do the dull governance stuff. When it works, it's invisible. When it doesn't, it's news.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Those of us who have lived in multiple somewheres are masters at making connections wherever we end up.
eg By the end of week 1 in Japan I ended up at someone’s Shabbat dinner, replete with challah made in a rice cooker.
eg By the end of week 1 in Japan I ended up at someone’s Shabbat dinner, replete with challah made in a rice cooker.
There's a gaping hole in his assumption that being "Anywhere" means you don't know how to be "Somewhere", when it's perfectly possible that having repeatedly learned the art of settling somewhere new, Anywheres might actually be better at Somewhereism.
January 27, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Those of us who have lived in multiple somewheres are masters at making connections wherever we end up.
eg By the end of week 1 in Japan I ended up at someone’s Shabbat dinner, replete with challah made in a rice cooker.
eg By the end of week 1 in Japan I ended up at someone’s Shabbat dinner, replete with challah made in a rice cooker.
How will we defeat this international conspiracy of convenience?
January 26, 2026 at 6:04 PM
How will we defeat this international conspiracy of convenience?
I've had loads of nice feedback on the Ai expenses thing.
Is there any interest in a thread/post on building your own agent, for people who can't code but hate admin as much as I do?
Is there any interest in a thread/post on building your own agent, for people who can't code but hate admin as much as I do?
This week’s weeknote: AI, trust surveys, agentic systems, video scepticism, and the difference between efficiency that sounds impressive and efficiency that actually makes your life better.
Relatedly, I finally did my expenses without crying.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/25/w...
Relatedly, I finally did my expenses without crying.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/25/w...
Weeknote 2026/04
It’s tulip season again (photo: Sharon O’Dea) A Wall Street Journal story caught my eye this week, showing a striking gap between how much time CEOs claim AI is saving them, and how lit…
sharonodea.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:57 AM
I've had loads of nice feedback on the Ai expenses thing.
Is there any interest in a thread/post on building your own agent, for people who can't code but hate admin as much as I do?
Is there any interest in a thread/post on building your own agent, for people who can't code but hate admin as much as I do?
This week’s weeknote: AI, trust surveys, agentic systems, video scepticism, and the difference between efficiency that sounds impressive and efficiency that actually makes your life better.
Relatedly, I finally did my expenses without crying.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/25/w...
Relatedly, I finally did my expenses without crying.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/25/w...
Weeknote 2026/04
It’s tulip season again (photo: Sharon O’Dea) A Wall Street Journal story caught my eye this week, showing a striking gap between how much time CEOs claim AI is saving them, and how lit…
sharonodea.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:26 PM
This week’s weeknote: AI, trust surveys, agentic systems, video scepticism, and the difference between efficiency that sounds impressive and efficiency that actually makes your life better.
Relatedly, I finally did my expenses without crying.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/25/w...
Relatedly, I finally did my expenses without crying.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/25/w...
Stop it, Alex. They’re not going to let you see the bairns. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Alex Honnold completes live Netflix free solo climb of Taipei 101 without safety gear
Alex Honnold has become the first person to climb the Taiwanese building alone without safety equipment.
www.bbc.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Stop it, Alex. They’re not going to let you see the bairns. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Sharon O'Dea
Carney at Davos: "And this aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable, as the natural logic of international relations reasserting itself."
Trump at Davos:
Trump at Davos:
January 21, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Carney at Davos: "And this aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable, as the natural logic of international relations reasserting itself."
Trump at Davos:
Trump at Davos:
We didn't have this problem when it was still called Bejams. Just saying.
Trump is now confusing Greenland and Iceland: "They're not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland has already cost us a lot of money."
January 21, 2026 at 3:00 PM
We didn't have this problem when it was still called Bejams. Just saying.
Never thought I'd be nostalgic for the days of performative gender equality chat and Will-i-am wearing a daft hat, but here we are.
January 21, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Never thought I'd be nostalgic for the days of performative gender equality chat and Will-i-am wearing a daft hat, but here we are.
Switzerland's head of state, "a woman"
January 21, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Switzerland's head of state, "a woman"
Imagine having this deranged, narcissistic lunatic as your head of state. I would simply die of embarrassment.
January 21, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Imagine having this deranged, narcissistic lunatic as your head of state. I would simply die of embarrassment.
It's five years since I quit smoking 🎉
They say you should pick a quit date and stick to it. I chose the date Trump left office, because it marked it marked the day I'd never have to hear the whiny cunt on the telly again.
Had I known how it'd work out, I might not have bothered tbh.
They say you should pick a quit date and stick to it. I chose the date Trump left office, because it marked it marked the day I'd never have to hear the whiny cunt on the telly again.
Had I known how it'd work out, I might not have bothered tbh.
January 21, 2026 at 9:50 AM
It's five years since I quit smoking 🎉
They say you should pick a quit date and stick to it. I chose the date Trump left office, because it marked it marked the day I'd never have to hear the whiny cunt on the telly again.
Had I known how it'd work out, I might not have bothered tbh.
They say you should pick a quit date and stick to it. I chose the date Trump left office, because it marked it marked the day I'd never have to hear the whiny cunt on the telly again.
Had I known how it'd work out, I might not have bothered tbh.
Edelman says we trust our employers more than anything else.
That’s not because work is going well.
It’s because it still pays the rent.
Some uncomfortable thoughts from me on trust, power, and why “dialogue” isn’t the answer - now in Strategic ⬇️
strategic.global/Employers-ar...
That’s not because work is going well.
It’s because it still pays the rent.
Some uncomfortable thoughts from me on trust, power, and why “dialogue” isn’t the answer - now in Strategic ⬇️
strategic.global/Employers-ar...
Employers are the most trusted institution. That should worry you - Strategic
Reading Time: 4 minutesSharon O’Dea: Some thoughts on this year’s Edelman Trust Barometer: If you work anywhere near communications, you’ll already have clocked the headlines from this year’s Edelman...
strategic.global
January 21, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Edelman says we trust our employers more than anything else.
That’s not because work is going well.
It’s because it still pays the rent.
Some uncomfortable thoughts from me on trust, power, and why “dialogue” isn’t the answer - now in Strategic ⬇️
strategic.global/Employers-ar...
That’s not because work is going well.
It’s because it still pays the rent.
Some uncomfortable thoughts from me on trust, power, and why “dialogue” isn’t the answer - now in Strategic ⬇️
strategic.global/Employers-ar...
Good grief absolutely not
January 20, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Good grief absolutely not
This thread is wild. I assumed fictional but there is VIDEO.
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
January 20, 2026 at 9:11 AM
This thread is wild. I assumed fictional but there is VIDEO.
I know they share an airport, but Leeds and Bradford are still technically two different places.
January 20, 2026 at 9:07 AM
I know they share an airport, but Leeds and Bradford are still technically two different places.
I went to a talk with historian Timothy Snyder last week, in which he said that Trump doesn’t understand sovereignty as a concept, he only views things as private property. Which made his recent moves make some kind of strange sense.
January 19, 2026 at 9:34 AM
I went to a talk with historian Timothy Snyder last week, in which he said that Trump doesn’t understand sovereignty as a concept, he only views things as private property. Which made his recent moves make some kind of strange sense.
This week featured people in rooms, ideas landing, and work briefly acquiring physical form.
Also: Infozempic, nomad work scepticism, Ukraine as Europe’s hinge point, and the joy of discovering your collaborators aren’t an elaborate catfishing scheme.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/01/18/w...
Also: Infozempic, nomad work scepticism, Ukraine as Europe’s hinge point, and the joy of discovering your collaborators aren’t an elaborate catfishing scheme.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/01/18/w...
Weeknote 2026/03
Amsterdam, again (photo: Sharon O’Dea) This week involved a disconcerting amount of physical reality. People materialised in actual rooms. Ideas escaped their Google Docs and did things to ot…
sharonodea.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:23 PM
This week featured people in rooms, ideas landing, and work briefly acquiring physical form.
Also: Infozempic, nomad work scepticism, Ukraine as Europe’s hinge point, and the joy of discovering your collaborators aren’t an elaborate catfishing scheme.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/01/18/w...
Also: Infozempic, nomad work scepticism, Ukraine as Europe’s hinge point, and the joy of discovering your collaborators aren’t an elaborate catfishing scheme.
Weeknote: sharonodea.com/2026/01/18/w...
An excuse, not that one is needed, to recollect how free speech warrior Toby Young blocked me on Twitter because I called his personal ego vehicle free school a "Twat Madrassa".
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Who funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit went to court to hide its donors. Today we reveal that funders include US anti-abortion groups, Brexit politicians and Tufton Street insiders.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:36 PM
An excuse, not that one is needed, to recollect how free speech warrior Toby Young blocked me on Twitter because I called his personal ego vehicle free school a "Twat Madrassa".