This Is Our Manifesto

Earlier this year, Independent Thinking founder Ian Gilbert attended a 'Makers and Mavericks' event in sunny West Wales.

He had booked his place before he noticed the date was Independent Thinking's 30th birthday.

So, that was auspicious.

One of the ideas explored on the day was that of creating a manifesto.

Writing a manifesto is a powerful process by which you clearly outline your values and beliefs along with what is important to you and how you choose to set about your work and your life.

It is a really insightful task that would make a great start-of-term exercise for a new team, a new tutor group, a new class or a new job. They can be personal or collaborative or both.

For the organisers, a manifesto is important because:

"It gives clarity.

It sets direction.

It holds you to account, daily."

They quote Kelly McGonigal, author of The Upside of Stress on the research that, on top of a range of short-term benefits such as helping people feel more in control, connected and better able to handle stress:

"writing about values has been shown to boost academic achievement, reduce doctor visits, improve mental health, and help with everything from weight loss to quitting smoking and reducing drinking."

Powerful stuff.

A personal manifesto can be a like this one:

You may have come across artists writing manifestos. This one is from pottery artist Grayson Perry. (We particularly like number seven):

But the ones focused on that day were business ones, like this (famous) one from Apple:

So, we set to work, thinking about what an Independent Thinking manifesto might look like.

Especially after 30 years of doing what we do.

And this is what we came up with.

Our 18-point manifesto of what we believe in, how we behave in our work and what makes us tick.

See what you think:

That's us (for now).

So, what would your manifesto be, for yourself, your family, your class, your tutor group, your department, your school or organisation?

After all, you know what they say?

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. [ITL]