Unlocking the Benefits of Journaling

12 Thursday Feb 2026

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Productivity, Story Telling, Tools

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Journaling is a simple habit as I discussed in a previous blog post (Ditch Resolutions: Embrace Habit-Building for Success). It is just about writing down your thoughts, feelings, notes, or anything else that comes to mind. I last wrote about my journalling in 2021 – Journaling my Daily Musings and I am now on journal 41 and over 7000 pages of about 18 years worth of daily notes. That is certainly a legacy I will be leaving for my family to read through (if they do).

People journal for all sorts of reasons such as a personal or work based journal and across different mediums of paper and digital. Some want to clear their heads, track their habits or work through tough feelings. Others may just want a record of their life. There’s no right or wrong reason to start and no set time to start either.

Research also shows journaling can help with stress, anxiety, mental health and emotional wellbeing. The University of Rochester Medical Center has found that writing about your feelings can make it easier to manage anxiety and depression.

The Benefits: Real Reasons People Journal

  • Helps reduce stress and clear your mind
  • Makes it easier to understand your emotions
  • Can boost creativity and new ideas
  • Supports tracking goals and daily habits
  • Gives you a personal record of memories
  • Helps build good habits

Start Journaling: Simple Steps

Starting a journal does not need to be about being a perfect writer or having a fancy notebook and pen or laptop/tablet.

  1. Pick Your Format: You can write in a notebook, on your phone, or on your device. If your using your device there are plenty of journaling apps available
  2. Start Small: You don’t have to write reams of pages/text. Start with two or three sentences, a short paragraph or a quick list.
  3. Set a Time That Suits You: Some people may like mornings, I personally like to journal in the mornings and catch up with anything from the previous day and set out my day ahead. Othera may prefer evenings. There’s no best time and you should go with fits your day. It is important though to stick to this time to help make journalling a habit.
  4. Time taken to Journal: Start small again. Five minutes can be enough. Your goal should be to write something, not to write the most perfect journal. You will improve over time.
  5. Let Go of Judgement: Your journal is for you (and anyone you choose to read it). Write honestly, and in your style of writing. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar or crossing things out.
  6. Build It Into a Routine: Pair journaling with something you already do, I like to start the day with a good cup of coffee and journal. This is called “habit stacking” and is a simple way to be consistent.

Types of Journaling: Find Your Style

Journaling isn’t just “dear diary”. There are lots of ways to do it. Here are some popular types, with examples and links for more info:

Daily/Reflective Journaling

This is the “write about your day” approach. It is good for understanding emotions, processing events and building self-awareness.

  • What stood out today
  • How you felt and why
  • Something you learned

For inspiration have a look at the reflective prompts from PositivePsychology.com at https://positivepsychology.com/journaling/.

Goal and Productivity Journaling

This is a structured way to stay focused and track progress and is the “bullet journal” approach. It is good for planners, habit trackers and self‑improvement.

  • Daily priorities
  • Weekly goals
  • Wins and challenges

For inspiration have a look at the examples and structure of a bullet journal at https://bulletjournal.com.

Brain Dump Journaling

This journaling method is where you empty your mind onto the page (with no rules). It is good for reducing mental clutter and boosting focus.

  • To‑dos
  • Random ideas

For inspiration have a look at this productivity system Getting Things Done at https://gettingthingsdone.com.

Gratitude Journaling

This journaling method is a simple practice that boosts mood and perspective. It is good for helping to boost your positivity.

  • Three things you’re grateful for
  • A moment that made you smile

For inspiration have a look at this research from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center on gratitude journaling improves wellbeing at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain.

Creative Journaling

This journaling method uses a blend of writing, doodling, collage and imagination. It is good for artists, visual thinkers and playful minds.

  • Sketches
  • Poems
  • Quotes
  • Mood boards

For inspiration have a look at this post by Gail Armstrong – Creative Journaling for Beginners https://medium.com/@gaildoodles/creative-journaling-for-beginners-99e4ff52cde9

Mindfulness or Meditation Journaling

This journaling method is for a calm, intentional style focusing on presence. It is good for reducing stress and grounding yourself.

  • How your body feels
  • Emotions present
  • A daily intention

For inspiration have a look at this website by meditation teacher Jon Kabat‑Zinn https://www.mindfulnesscds.com.

Prompt Based Journaling

This journaling method is for providing structure or inspiration. It is good for overcoming the fear of a blank page and not knowing what to write.

  • “What energized me today?”
  • “What’s one thing I want to improve this month?”
  • “What’s something I wish I could tell my younger self?”
    You can find more prompts at sites like Journal Buddies (https://www.journalbuddies.com).

For inspiration on prompts have a look at this website Journal Buddies at https://www.journalbuddies.com/all-ages/

Tips for Sticking With Journaling

  • Keep your journal somewhere you’ll see it such as on your desk, by your bed or in your bag
  • Don’t worry about writing every day. It is okay to skip days if you need to.
  • Re-read old entries sometimes to see how your journalling style is improving and to notice what’s changed.
  • Write for yourself and not for anyone else

Honest Encouragement

Journaling isn’t about being a writer, but about noticing your life and making sense of it, in your own way.

There’s no wrong way to do it. Start small, be honest and let the habit grow with you.

Futher Reading

James Clear – Atomic Habits Principles

Journaling for Mindfulness: 44 Prompts, Examples & Exercises

James Clear – Habit Stacking

5 Benefits of Journaling for Mental Health

Ditch Resolutions: Embrace Habit-Building for Success

Journaling my Daily Musings
No Batteries Required: My Personal Journal

Mastering Engaging Presentations: Tips for Captivating Your Audience

11 Wednesday Feb 2026

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Story Telling, Technologists Toolkit

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Presenting to an audience is not merely about speaking, it is about being engaging, connecting with and inspiring them.

Drawing on another page from my grandmothers notebook on elecution, here is some widom on this topic, whether you’re standing in front of a packed theatre or telling stories around a family dinner table, your delivery and expression are the keys to captivating listeners.

How to avoid faults in delivery

To avoid jerky delivery practice smooth flowing lyrics avoiding over emphasis. Sing song delivery is cause by hammering out the rhythm therefore concentrate on the meaning and feeling of the piece. Practice very dramatic pieces or lyrical pieces which are not metrical such as The Psalms.

How to cure rigid bearing

To cure rigid bearing first learn to relax, then practice exercises to make the whole body supple and finally feel the emotion required using the imagination and forgetting one’s self.

Expression

Expression is the power of making an audience feel the thoughts and emotions of the author.

Source: An excerpt from my grandmothers notebook.

How to Avoid Faults in Delivery

“To avoid jerky delivery, practise smooth flowing lyrics, avoiding overemphasis. Sing-song delivery is caused by hammering out the rhythm; therefore, concentrate on the meaning and feeling of the piece.”

One of the most common pitfalls in storytelling is letting the flow become mechanical or forced. Your audience can sense when you are simply reciting words rather than sharing an experience. Instead of focusing solely on rhythm and pace, put your energy into the meaning and emotion behind your story. Read your piece aloud and pay attention to the natural cadences and inflections that emerge.This will help you create a smooth, engaging delivery that draws listeners into your narrative.

Practice by recording yourself on your phone and replaying it to learn from where you need to improve. Try practising with stories that are emotionally charged or richly detailed, such as a chapter from your favourate novel. This will encourage you to connect with the content rather than just the structure.

By letting the story guide your tone and pace, you’ll avoid falling into a monotonous pattern and keep your audience invested throughout.

How to Cure Rigid Bearing

“To cure rigid bearing, first learn to relax, then practise exercises to make the whole body supple, and finally feel the emotion required using imagination and forgetting one’s self.”

Physical rigidity can undermine your presence, making you appear closed off or uncomfortable. Before stepping onto the stage or beginning your presentation, take a moment to relax. Simple breathing exercises, gentle stretches, or even a short walk can help loosen tension. Once you feel physically at ease, allow your imagination to transport you into the world of your story.

Effective storytelling demands that you immerse yourself in the emotions and scenarios you’re describing. If you truly feel what you’re telling, your body will naturally reflect those feelings, making your gestures and movements more expressive and authentic. Remember, the goal is not to perform, but to share—and that requires letting go of self-consciousness and embracing the narrative.

Practice by standing in front of a mirror and try the presentation, noting your stance and actions.

The Essence of Expression

“Expression is the power of making an audience feel the thoughts and emotions of the author.”

The heart of a compelling presentation lies in your ability to transmit not just information but genuine emotion and ideas. Expression is the bridge between your story and your audience’s hearts. When you care deeply about your message, your listeners will too. Speak with passion, vary your tone and let your facial expressions and body language mirror your words.

Again practice by recording yourself on your phone and replaying it to learn from where you need to improve.

Ultimately, great storytelling is about forging a connection. Focusing on smooth delivery, relaxed bearing and expressive communication can ensure that your presentation doesn’t just inform but inspire.

The Business Value of Enterprise Architecture Explored

04 Wednesday Feb 2026

Posted by in Enterprise Architecture, Governance, IT Strategy

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Enterprise architecture (EA) once focused mainly on streamlining IT systems, optimising resource use and ensuring compliance. Although these tasks are still important, today’s market demands much more. Organisations need to adapt quickly to changing customer needs, emerging technologies and fluctuating market conditions. EA offers a crucial framework for agile transformation, enabling organisations to adjust and grow effectively.

Enterprise Architecture as a Value Driver

Effective enterprise architecture goes beyond managing costs to actively empower businesses in several key areas:

  • Accelerate Innovation: By establishing modular and scalable architectures, EA enables rapid experimentation and the quick deployment of new products and services. This flexibility allows organisations to pilot emerging technologies, test new business models and adapt offerings to evolving customer needs without disrupting core operations. For instance, a company can integrate artificial intelligence or cloud solutions into its existing environment more swiftly.
  • Enhance Agility: Clearly defined processes and systems allow organisations to adapt more easily to change, reduce time-to-market and respond swiftly to disruptions. EA provides the blueprint for seamless business transformation, whether it involves entering new markets, adopting new regulatory requirements, or pivoting in response to unforeseen events. This agility is essential for maintaining relevance and resilience amid constant market shifts.
  • Improve Decision-Making: EA offers comprehensive visibility across business operations, equipping leaders to make informed and strategic decisions based on real time data and insights. Mapping the relationships between business processes, technology assets and organisational objectives ensures that decision makers can assess the impact of potential changes, allocate resources effectively and prioritise initiatives that deliver maximum value.
  • Reduce Risk: Through standardised frameworks and governance, EA helps anticipate and mitigate potential threats, thus ensuring business continuity and resilience. Enabling organisations to identify vulnerabilities in their systems, comply with regulatory requirements and establish robust controls that minimise the likelihood and impact of disruptions (operational, technological, or cyber-related).
  • Drive Collaboration: Enterprise architects bridge the gap between IT and business, fostering cross-functional dialogue and aligning teams around strategic objectives. This collaborative approach ensures that technology investments are closely aligned with business goals, breaking down silos and encouraging a culture of shared ownership and accountability. As a result, organisations can harness the collective expertise of their workforce to drive innovation and deliver better outcomes.

Shifting Mindsets and Measuring Value

To unlock EA’s full potential as a value driver, organisations must shift their perspective. This means recognising Enterprise Architects as strategic partners, not merely custodians of IT. Demonstrating EA’s impact through measurable business outcomes (such as increased revenue, enhanced customer experience and reduced operational risks) further establishes its role in generating value.

Further Reading

The Impact of Enterprise Architecture on Innovation Culture
The Role of Enterprise Architecture in Fostering Innovation
Building Cyber Resilience: Enterprise Architecture and ArchiMate for Strategic Security

Celebrating 150+ Hours of STEM Impact

03 Tuesday Feb 2026

Posted by in 21st Century Human, STEM

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Today marks a milestone I’m incredibly proud to celebrate after recieving an email from STEM Ambassadors with a Bronze badge surpassing 150 hours of STEM volunteering.

Each year we will mark your cumulative volunteering hours with one of our digital badges to recognise all the volunteering hours you’ve completed since becoming a STEM Ambassador. This year’s badge includes all your volunteering hours up to 31 December 2025. Badges will now be issued once a year, so your next one will arrive in January 2027. – From the STEM Email I received.

What began as a commitment to give back has grown into one of the most rewarding parts of my work, helping young people discover the possibilities of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Reaching 150 hours is not just a number for me, it is a reminder of the brilliant young people I’ve met, the questions that have challenged me and the excitement that comes from helping someone take their first step toward a future in tech. Their enthusiasm is infectious and it motivates me to keep showing up, sharing knowledge and championing STEM wherever I can.

Through the STEM Ambassador programme, I’ve had the opportunity to support schools, colleges, community groups and regional initiatives that have opened doors, expanded knowledge and thinking for the next generation. I have achieved this through delivering hands‑on workshops, speaking at STEM events, participating in outreach programmes and supporting digital skills activities, every hour has contributed to building curiosity, confidence and opportunity.

Across the wider region and UK, STEM Ambassadors are making a tremendous impact, with thousands of hours logged collectively and ambitious new targets being set year after year.

I’m grateful to be part of a programme that recognises the value of volunteering, supports continuous development and encourages individuals, companys and industries to push for even greater impact. Here’s to the next 150 hours and many more opportunities to help shape the innovators, creators and problem‑solvers of tomorrow.

Find out more about being a STEM Ambassador at: https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors

The Importance of ArchiMate and UML in Modern Organisations

02 Monday Feb 2026

Posted by in ArchiMate, Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, Technologists Toolkit

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Modern organisations operate within intricate ecosystems comprising applications, processes, data flows, technologies and external partners. Despite this complexity, many organisations still communicate their architecture using simple diagrams often created in Visio, PowerPoint or even hand drawn on paper and whiteboards. While these approaches offer flexibility and speed, they lack the structure and clarity essential for effective collaboration and robust governance at scale.

Limitations of Standard Diagrams

Ad-hoc diagrams are prevalent in many organisations, yet as business environments grow more complex, they introduce significant risks. The key issues include:

  • Inconsistent Interpretation: Stakeholders may interpret elements differently, leading to confusion and miscommunication.
  • Lack of Structured Layers: There is often no clear distinction between business, application and technology domains unless specifically drawn in or labelled.
  • Artistic Licence: There can be many differences in the way different architects draw their diagrams.
  • Limited Reusability: Diagrams are difficult to reuse or adapt, resulting in duplicated effort.
  • Weak Impact Analysis: The absence of defined relationships makes it challenging to assess the consequences of change.
  • Time to Change: Changes often need additional time as objects need to be manually moved around a page and lines redrawn to link these together.

These shortcomings create governance challenges, slow down transformation efforts and can hinder collaboration between teams.

While there will always be a place for these types of diagrams within architecture to address specific use cases, it is essential to adopt a holistic modelling framework or standard for comprehensive and effective enterprise architecture. There are two possible solutions to help.

The Case for ArchiMate

ArchiMate, developed by The Open Group, is a modelling language purpose built for Enterprise Architecture. It establishes a common language for architects, delivery teams and clients.

  • Structured Notation: ArchiMate offers clear, layered modelling across business, application and technology domains.
  • Multiple Viewpoints: With over twenty standard viewpoints, stakeholders can focus on the aspects most relevant to them.
  • Cross-Domain Consistency: ArchiMate ensures traceability from strategy through to execution, supporting alignment across the organisation.
  • Industry Alignment: The language integrates with frameworks like TOGAF, making it a natural choice for Enterprise Architecture teams.

By adopting ArchiMate, organisations can model not only their systems, but also how those systems underpin business capabilities, goals and strategic change.

The Case for UML

While ArchiMate addresses strategic and enterprise-level concerns, UML (Unified Modelling Language) specialises in detailed system and software design. UML is widely used to create precise models of software architectures, components, interfaces and behaviours.

  • Detailed Modelling: UML excels at capturing the intricacies of software systems, including classes and dynamic behaviours.
  • Clear Communication: UML diagrams provide developers and architects with a shared understanding of system structures and interactions.
  • Low-Level Design: UML’s strength lies in modelling dynamic behaviour and implementation details, complementing ArchiMate’s high-level abstraction.

For solution architects, UML is vital to ensuring rigorous design and a smooth handover to engineering teams.

Synergy: Using ArchiMate and UML Together

A combined approach leverages the strengths of both languages. ArchiMate provides the strategic, enterprise-wide context, while UML delivers the technical detail necessary for implementation. This synergy ensures a seamless transition from strategy to solution, bridging the gap between business vision and technology execution.

Business Benefits: Improved Communication, Risk Reduction and Scalability

Structured modelling languages offer clear advantages over informal diagrams:

  • Unambiguous Meaning: Every element and relationship has a defined semantic, removing ambiguity.
  • Effective Impact Analysis: Dependencies and consequences of change are visible early, supporting informed decision-making.
  • Governance and Compliance: Models support stronger oversight, risk management and regulatory compliance.
  • Scalability: Modular, reusable models can be shared and versioned across distributed teams and geographies.

These benefits help organisations reduce project risks, improve alignment and enable more efficient collaboration.

Tool Ecosystem: Supporting Modelling Quality

Modern modelling tools further enhance the value of ArchiMate and UML. Platforms such as Bizzdesign, Archi and Sparx EA provide:

  • Native Support: Tools offer built-in support for ArchiMate and UML streamlining modelling processes.
  • Integrated Repositories: Solutions like Sparx EA enable modelling across abstraction levels within a single environment.
  • Automated Consistency Checks: These tools help enforce standards and minimise human error.
  • Accessibility: Open-source options such as Archi make structured modelling accessible to all teams, regardless of licensing constraints.

This ecosystem of tools elevates modelling quality, maintains consistency and supports collaborative workflows.

Enabling Digital Transformation

Structured modelling languages are indispensable during periods of strategic transformation, cloud migration, and organisational modernisation. ArchiMate, in particular enables organisations to:

  • Reveal how capabilities, applications, data flows and infrastructure interrelate.
  • Align architecture decisions with business drivers, goals and expected outcomes.
  • Clarify large-scale change by unifying multiple perspectives within a single coherent model.

Transformation initiatives are far more likely to succeed when teams use structured models to guide and communicate change.

Summary Table: Standard Diagrams vs. ArchiMate/UML

Challenge with Standard DiagramsBenefit with ArchiMate / UML
No semanticsFormal meaning and consistency
Inconsistent visualsStandardised notation
Hard to scaleReusable patterns and multi-stakeholder views
Limited impact analysisRelationship driven modelling
No clear linkage from strategy to designArchiMate → strategy & enterprise
UML → detailed system design
Tooling limited to drawingTools support modelling, versioning, analysis

Conclusion

Standard diagrams may suffice for informal, short-term communication, but they fall short in enterprise architecture, where clarity, consistency and strategic alignment are crucial. Structured modelling languages such as ArchiMate and UML form the foundation for modelling complex systems, reducing risk, and ensuring accurate communication between business and IT teams.

Organisations should invest in modelling guilds, shared training and cross-team practices to encourage adoption. Moving to formal modelling languages is not just a technical upgrade—it represents a strategic evolution, essential for digital-first enterprises.

Business and IT leaders should:

  • Establish an Enterprise Architecture Office.
  • Review current architecture practices and identify areas that would benefit from structured modelling.
  • Invest in training and tools that support ArchiMate and UML.
  • Promote collaboration across teams using shared modelling standards.
  • Leverage modelling languages to support transformation, governance and compliance initiatives.

By adopting these modelling languages organisations can unlock greater strategic value, drive successful digital transformation and ensure long-term resilience in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Sources/References

NCSC Annual Review 2025 – Cyber Resilience & EA Modelling
Source: Building Cyber Resilience: Enterprise Architecture and ArchiMate for Strategic Security
https://maxhemingway.com/2025/10/14/building-cyber-resilience-enterprise-architecture-and-archimate-for-strategic-security/

Using ArchiMate with UML – Framework Integration Guide
Source: Using the ArchiMate Language with UML
https://archimate.visual-paradigm.com/2025/02/18/using-the-archimate-language-with-uml-a-comprehensive-guide/

Why ArchiMate is the Modelling Standard for Enterprise Architecture
Source: EA Learning – Why ArchiMate is the modelling language for enterprise architects
https://www.ealearning.com/blog/why-archimate-is-the-modelling-language-for-enterprise-architects/

UML and ArchiMate Coexistence in Sparx EA
Source: UML vs ArchiMate: When to Use What, and How They Coexist in Sparx EA
https://www.nilus.be/blog_posts/uml_vs_archimate_in_sparx.html

Preparing for Post Quantum Security: Key EA Strategies

29 Thursday Jan 2026

Posted by in Enterprise Architecture, Quantum, Security

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As we begin 2026, its only 2 years until the first key milestone highlighted in the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) “Timelines for migration to post-quantum cryptography(PQC)”. Quantum computers have the potential to crack widely used cryptographic algorithms, threatening the confidentiality and integrity of critical data. Enterprise Architecture (EA) can play a pivotal role in enabling organisations to prepare for and adopt post-quantum security measures.

Key Milestones

As highlighted in the report the key milestones are:

  • By 2028: Define migration goals, conduct a full discovery exercise, and build an initial migration plan.
  • By 2031: Carry out early, high-priority PQC migration activities and refine the migration plan.
  • By 2035: Complete the migration to PQC for all systems, services, and products.

The Role of Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise Architecture provides a holistic framework for aligning IT strategy with business objectives. By mapping out systems, processes and data flows, EA enables organisations to identify vulnerabilities and plan for robust security solutions. When it comes to post-quantum security, EA serves as the blueprint for integrating new cryptographic standards across the enterprise.

Key Ways EA Facilitates Post Quantum Security

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) provides a comprehensive methodology for developing, managing, and governing enterprise architecture and I have used this below to show where it adds value.

  • Strategic Planning: EA helps assess the current cryptographic landscape and develop a roadmap for migrating to PQC resistant solutions. This includes prioritising systems and data that are most at risk. TOGAF’s Preliminary and Architecture Vision phases guide in establishing the architectural capability and defining high-level aspirations. EA enables a thorough assessment of existing cryptographic assets and sets the direction for a quantum-resistant roadmap. This phase can be used to prioritise critical systems and data, aligning security goals with business objectives and stakeholder needs.
  • Standardisation: By enforcing architectural standards, EA ensures consistency in the adoption of post quantum algorithms across different platforms and departments. TOGAF’s core architecture domains (Business, Application, Data and Technology) provide a structured approach for enforcing architectural standards. EA ensures that post quantum algorithms are consistently adopted across platforms and the business, promoting interoperability and compliance. Standardisation is achieved through reference models, common principles and governance structures defined in these domains.
  • Risk Management: EA supports comprehensive risk assessments, enabling an understanding of the potential impact of quantum threats and allows them to be addressed proactively. TOGAF incorporates continuous requirements management and robust governance processes. EA, in alignment with these practices, supports in conducting comprehensive risk assessments to understand quantum threats, evaluate their impact and proactively implement mitigating controls. Regular reviews and compliance checks ensure risks are managed throughout the architecture lifecycle.
  • Change Management: Transitioning to post-quantum security requires significant organisational change. EA facilitates this by coordinating stakeholders, processes, and technologies to ensure smooth implementation. TOGAF’s Implementation Governance and Migration Planning phases are vital for orchestrating organisational change. EA coordinates stakeholder engagement, process redesign and technology upgrades, facilitating a smooth transition to PQC. Formal change management ensures all parties are informed, prepared and equipped to adapt to new protocols and standards.
  • Future-Proofing: EA promotes adaptability, ensuring that the architecture can evolve as PQC standards mature and new threats emerge. TOGAF emphasises continuous improvement and adaptability through its Opportunities and Solutions and Architecture Change Management phases. EA leverages these to monitor the evolution of post quantum standards and emerging threats, updating architectures as needed. This ensures the enterprise remains resilient and can quickly respond to new challenges, maintaining a robust security posture over time.

Steps for Enterprises to Take Now

  1. Begin by inventorying all systems and data that rely on cryptography.
  2. Engage with industry standards bodies and stay informed on PQC developments.
  3. Update the Enterprise Architecture to reflect quantum security requirements and plan for phased adoption.
  4. Train technical teams and stakeholders on the implications of quantum threats and the need for new security protocols.

Further Reading

Key Steps for a Successful Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography

Graceful Speech & Timeless Tales: The Complete Series Index

28 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Story Telling

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There’s something undeniably magical about opening an old notebook and discovering the wisdom of the author. I have been exploring my grandmother’s notes on elocution and have written a number of blogs on its contents, aptly titled “Graceful Speech & Timeless Tales”

This post is to serve as an index and as a gateway to the treasure trove of posts, notes and personal reflections on the art of speaking with poise and telling stories with heart.

Having written these posts and exploring the notebook, I often wonder what she would think about my additions and how they are being used. Good I hope in reflecting her life as a teacher and in helping others.

Series Index

I hope that you have found these posts both helpful and inspiring. Writing this series has been a rewarding experience for me and gained as much from reading it as I have from putting it together.

It is likely that there will be additional posts in this series as I continue to explore and reflect upon more entries in the notebook. I will update and republish this list when I post anything further from the notebook.

Graceful Speech & Timeless Tales: Unlocking the Power of Tone

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Story Telling

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With the world overflowing with messages, videos, social media and influencers, making a presentation or story truly resonate is key to engaging an audience and attracting new views. The answer to this lies not just in the words we choose, but in how we deliver them through the colour and quality of our voice.

Drawing inspiration from a excerpt in my grandmother’s notebook, the art of tone remains as vital today as it was in generations past.

The Timeless Impact of Tone: More Than Just Sound

Tone is the unique character our voices take on, reflecting our connection to what we’re saying. Even if the audience doesn’t understand the language, the emotion behind the words can still be felt. This universal quality is why great presenters and storytellers engage an audiences hearts as well as their minds.

It is important to consider the actual language that you use and any words that are specific to your trade or industry are simplified for the audience. Not everyone will know what a Wobjiglinkthingibob is!

Physical and Mental Aspects: A Two-Pronged Approach

The notes describe tone colour as having two sides: the physical and the mental. Modern voice coaches echo this, emphasising both body and mind.

  • Physical Resonance: Today, we know that the way sound vibrates in our chest, throat and head shapes our vocal tone. Good posture, relaxed muscles, and proper breathing allow your voice to carry emotion more naturally. This means practising vocal exercises and staying mindful of tension and anger, as this can often tighten the muscles and constrict the voice.
  • Mental Imagination: To truly connect, you must immerse yourself in the content and envision its emotional landscape. The best storytellers use empathy and imagination to internalise the mood of their message, letting genuine feeling colour their voice. Mindfulness and visualisation techniques help cultivate mental quickness, helping speakers pivot smoothly between emotions as their story unfolds.

Modern Applications: Engaging Today’s Audience

Presenting and storytelling in the digital era offer new challenges and opportunities. Audiences are diverse, attention spans are short (20-40 mins) and authenticity is prized. To stand out:

  1. Be Present: Before speaking, centre yourself. Take a deep breath and mentally step into the scene you’re about to describe.
  2. Feel the Emotion: Don’t just recite, relive the emotions behind your words. Let your voice reflect your excitement, concern, joy or suspense.
  3. Adapt and Respond: Modern presenters read the room, whether in person or online. Adjust your tone in real time to maintain connection and engagement.

Tone Colour is the special quality the voice possesses when it is in perfect harmony with the subject matter. One should be able to tell the emotion by the quality of the voice even if one did not understand the language.

How obtained: Two sides – one physical the other mental

Physical – This is obtained be resonance

Mental – obtained by cultivating the imagination one must thoroughly understand the context if the passage – then the required emotion must be imagined next this must be concentrated upon sufficiently to colour the voice. Just as emotion alters the texture of the body. Eg. Tight muscles when angry, so it will alter the quality of the voice, so after concentrating upon the idea we must try to reproduce the effect of that emotion in the voice. It is obtained by the use of certain resonances which will come naturally if the emotion is felt then there must be mental quickness to move from the impression and expression of one emotion to the impression and expression of another emotion.

Above are an excerpt from my grandmothers notebook.

By balancing physical technique with emotional intelligence, presenters and storytellers can ensure their message not only reaches the audience but resonates long after the final word.

Further Reading

Lessons from my Grandmother’s Notebook: Rediscovering the Art of Speaking
Using the best of the Q Continuum

Why Boards Overlook Enterprise Architecture

20 Tuesday Jan 2026

Posted by in ArchiMate, Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, Story Telling

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Enterprise Architecture (EA) has been part of organisations for many decades. Most companies have some form of EA and plenty of diagrams meant to show how everything fits together.  These are often built around frameworks such as TOGAF and Zachman, but there are several other well-established architecture frameworks that can be used depending on industry and requirements.

Yet when boards discuss technology, architecture may not feature on the agenda unless there’s a problem. It’s not that boards don’t care or know about architecture, the issue is that EA can be seen as not delivering what boards genuinely need.

Why Boards Rarely Discuss Architecture

Boards typically only hear about architecture when something goes wrong: a hack or security issue, a major outage, a failed transformation or a regulatory breach. Otherwise architecture may be left out of the conversation. The reason isn’t indifference, but more that EA often misses the mark on what matters most to the board.

What Boards Care About (Not Diagrams)

Boards have a handful of core responsibilities and these can follow a governance code / framework

Examples of governance codes/frameworks (others are available):

This article provides a good explaination of a board governance framework “What are the core components of a board governance framework?“

Some of these responsibilities cover areas such as:

  • Strategic coherence: Are we investing in the right capabilities to succeed?
  • Risk oversight: Where could the business fail on a large scale? (for example COSO ERM)
  • Capital allocation: Are our technology investments building lasting value?
  • Execution confidence: Can management deliver on its promises?
  • Ethical oversight: Are we upholding appropriate standards of conduct and integrity?
  • Resilience: Can we adapt to shocks, new regulations or disruptions? (For example: guidance from the UK FCA)
  • Stakeholder engagement: Are we considering the interests of shareholders, employees, customers and society?
  • Compliance and legal responsibility: Are we fulfilling our statutory and regulatory obligations?
  • Performance monitoring: Are we regularly reviewing organisational performance against targets and objectives?

Technology serves as the foundation supporting each of these critical governance areas. However the board’s primary concern is not with technology itself, but with the confidence that technological choices are purposeful, well-aligned with overall organisational objectives and capable of being maintained over time.

Boards are seeking assurance and reassurance that all technology related decisions are made with intention, in harmony with strategic aims and are structured to support ongoing sustainability.

When Enterprise Architecture fails at Board Level

When EA fails at the board level, it often shows up with:

  • Dense application landscape diagrams (EA is positioned too low)
  • Framework heavy language (TOGAF, Zachman, capability maps)
  • EA is measured on output and not impact
  • Long lists of “standards” and “principles”
  • Abstract future state visions disconnected from funding decisions

This can happen when an EA function focuses on:

While these areas are essential for building a sound EA /technical foundation, they do not by themselves address the broader, strategic questions that boards are concerned with, such as the organisation’s fragility, implicit assumptions, compounding risks or potential bottlenecks under pressure.

This can create a disconnect between what EA can typically deliver and the insight boards actually require to steer the business effectively.

Enterprise Architecture / Architecture can becomes valuable to a board when it explains why certain outcomes are likely or unlikely given the current shape of the enterprise. This is an idea aligned with Systems Thinking.

What Boards Actually Need from Enterprise Architecture

A Map of Enterprise Constraints (Not Systems)

Boards need to see where change is slow, expensive or risky. Consider these questions which a board needs to understand and align with the Theory of Constraints at the enterprise level.

  • Where change is slow, expensive or risky?
  • Which capabilities are tightly coupled?
  • What cannot be altered quickly without cascading impact?

Mapping an architecture and using an EA tool to do this can help in identifying answers to these questions, but remember these diagrams are not what the board are looking for, but providing a constraint map of the architecture.

  • “If we pursue Strategy X, these three bottlenecks will determine our cost, timeline and risk.”

Early Warning Signals, not Post-Event Explanations

Most architecture analysis happens after failure:

  • “Here’s why the outage happened”
  • “Here’s why the transformation stalled”

Boards need EA to surface leading indicators that don’t match strategy. These signals should work like Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) in risk management:

  • Rising integration density
  • Fragile data ownership
  • Overloaded platforms
  • Capability dependencies that no longer match strategy

Without this, architecture can remain reactive and something repeatedly criticised in post-incident reviews such as major outages.

Clear Trade-Offs Tied to Strategy

Every architectural decision involves a bet such as:

  • Centralisation vs. autonomy
  • Speed vs. control
  • Standardisation vs. differentiation

Boards don’t need the “right” answer, but rather a need to know which trade-offs management is making and which ones they’re inheriting by default. A good EA makes these choices explicit, a poor EA hides them behind technical language.

A Line of Sight from Spend to Structural Outcomes

Boards approve large technology budgets with surprisingly little insight into what those investments change structurally. If architecture cannot connect spending to changes in the enterprise, boards will see technology investment as risky and uncleary. This is where IT value realisation can help.

EA should consider this IT Value Realisation checklist

  • 1) Outcomes defined & quantified (targets, baselines, owners)
  • 2) Capability → value stream → process model in place
  • 3) Architecture decisions trace to value hypotheses
  • 4) Governance embeds value gates (Architecture Review Boards)
  • 5) Tooling configured for reuse & traceability (Archimate / UML)
  • 6) Incremental delivery plan
  • 7) Benefits tracking live (variance, forecast vs. actual, corrective actions)
  • 8) Operating model aligned (ITIL/IT4IT value streams instrumented)
  • 9) Risk controls (security, compliance, quantum‑resilience strategy)
  • 10) Communication cadence (value dashboards to execs/boards)

Confidence That Someone Is Watching the Whole System

Boards want to know that someone genuinely understands how the organisation works as a system. This expectation matches the intent behind enterprise-wide architecture governance, not just IT governance. This is a function that Enterprise Architecture should be fulfilling.

Reframing Enterprise Architecture for the Board

If if EA is to truly influence decision making at the highest level, it must evolve its approach.

To become relevant at board level, EA must shift from traditional practices to a more impactful, business centric approach. This transformation involves:

Describing the enterprise → Explaining its behaviour

Instead of merely cataloguing systems and processes, Enterprise Architecture should interpret how the organisation functions, highlighting patterns, interdependencies and emergent risks.

This can be met by telling stories about why things happen the way they do and what that means for the board’s strategic oversight.

Defining standards → Surfacing consequences

Rather than presenting lists of standards and principles, Enterprise Architecture should highlight the real world implications of these choices.

  • What risks are introduced or mitigated?
  • How do these standards impact business agility, resilience, or regulatory compliance?

Boards need to understand not just what the rules are, but why they matter.

Producing models → Influencing decisions

Enterprise Architecture should move beyond the creation of abstract models and frameworks by using its insights to actively shape board-level discussions.

This can be met by providing recommendations, challenging assumptions and framing choices in terms of risk, opportunity and strategic alignment.

The critical question EA must answer for boards

“Given how this enterprise is built today, what should leaders worry about tomorrow?”

This question captures the essence of board-level engagement. Anticipating future challenges, highlighting areas of fragility and ensuring leaders are equipped to make informed, forward-looking decisions.

Enterprise Architecture’s true value lies in its ability to surface these concerns before they become crises enabling boards to act proactively rather than reactively.

When EA can answer board level questions with clarity and relevance, the board will listen.

Further Reading

ISO/IEC 42010 for architecture descriptions

System Thinking

Theory of Constraints

Graceful Speech & Timeless Tales: The Elements of Elocution

14 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Story Telling

≈ 1 Comment

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The art of elocution once reserved for the grand stages and parlours of yesteryear is today replaced by speaking to pitch ideas, deliver a keynote or weave a captivating tale. These all rely crucially on how you speak.

1. Audibility: Make Yourself Heard

Audibility is more than just volume. It is about ensuring your voice reaches every listener, whether in a packed auditorium or on a video call. This means understanding your environment, using microphones effectively, managing background noise and projecting your voice confidently. Techniques like breath control, resonance and mastering your vocal registers help you maintain clarity and stamina, especially in longer sessions.

2. Distinctness: Speak Clearly, Be Understood

With diverse audiences and global reach, clear speech is essential to be understood. Distinctness involves crisp articulation of vowels and consonants, precise pronunciation and mindful enunciation. This also means being aware of regional accents, inclusive language and if presenting virtually, ensuring that your technology and slides don’t muffle your message. Practising ensures your words are easily recognisable and your message doesn’t get lost in translation.

3. Expression: Breathe Life Into Your Words

Storytelling is about connection and making your audience feel the emotions behind your words. Expression encompasses how you pace your speech (using pause and phrasing), where you place emphasis and how you modulate your voice with changes in rate, pitch and intensity.

Expression also means harnessing body language, gesture and facial expressions, even through a webcam. What we do can say more than our words.

Rhyme, rhythm, prosody and the subtle use of tone colour turn even the most factual presentations into memorable experiences.

The elements of elocution are:

  1. Audibility
  2. Distinctness
  3. Expression

Audibility is the power of making the voice heard and includes the study of:

  1. Breath control
  2. Phonation (the act of producing voice by means of the vocal cord)
  3. Resonance
  4. Vocal registers

Distinctness is the power of making words easily recognisable and includes the study of:

  1. Vowel and consonants
  2. Articulation
  3. Pronunciation

Expression is the power of making an audience feel the emotions and thoughts of the author – the voice and manner must suit the words. Expression includes the study of:

  1. Pause and phrasing
  2. Emphasis
  3. Modulation including rate, pitch inflection and intensity
  4. Rhyme, rhythm and prosody
  5. Gesture and facial expression
  6. Tone colour

Above are an excerpt from my grandmothers notebook.

Bringing It All Together

At its core, elocution is about authenticity and connection. By combining audibility, distinctness and expression, presenters and storytellers can engage audiences, foster understanding and inspire action.

When you are getting ready to next practice, present or share a story, remember – your voice is your instrument and every audience deserves to hear it played beautifully.

The best way to get better is to practice, present and tell stories more, obtaining feedback afterwards from your audience.

Further Reading

Lessons from my Grandmother’s Notebook: Rediscovering the Art of Speaking