Over the past few years I have led a few boards and exec teams through my Strategic Facilitation process to deliver a three or five year Strategic Plan for their respective organisations.

It struck me in a workshop I was a participant in late last year.

As a presenter, I was going deeper into the importance of message, clarity of message, and finding ways to articulate this better in my speaking work. I filled notebooks with thinking, discussed my ideas one to one with colleagues, talked it out with instructors and practiced in front of the group. It was difficult, awkward, embarrassing and draining. But, then it popped.

It is contagious.

One person acts in a significant way. Another listens, joins and follows. Then another walks past and thinks, 'whats going on over there?' They check it out and get wrapped up in the vibe. Then before you know it a crowd forms and a movement has begun.

Over recent years I have become an early riser. Up at five or five-thirty AM, a little exercise, breakfast and into work. A couple of weeks ago, I was eating my usual over-night oats as a part of my morning routine and my phone rang without me seeing it - a friend. 'Not to worry, I'll call them back later'. Then, a few whatsApp messages came through. Then, my phone lit up.