TOOLKIT: WORKING IN EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENTS
Manifesto 2.0
When I first wrote the manifesto, I wrote it in my personal journal.
I had the idea of writing a manifesto for a while and for some reason, it just seemed like a really powerful tool to me. It felt different to providing a checklist or a set of “rules” because a Manifesto has the word “manifest” in it and I truly believe that you can write things into being. When you write things, when people read what you’ve written, then act on those words, we’re manifesting a hopefully better reality.
We published that journal entry on the old 100kicks website and I’m happy to report that it's probably the most talked about part of the website. One person shared how useful the Manifesto was for intention setting with potential and existing clients. Another researcher shared that they had recently quit a role because the Manifesto helped them realize that her current job was not living up to her (previously implicit) needs.
At the time of writing, the original manifesto was written out of frustration. I saw it as a way of embedding boundaries for 100kicks; I simply didn’t want to see me or my business taken advantage of. Now, a year on, I’ve realized that coming from an affirmative space rather than a defensive one is the way I can best manifest these ideas beyond me.
So, I am rolling in Manifesto 2.0, a toolkit-esque version of the original, which I hope will help anyone to think about who and how they are working.
How to use this toolkit manifesto:
Use it as a discussion tool with potential clients. These conversations can help you draw up SOW’s and contracts that are reflective of your practices in real life
Use it with your employers
Use it with your work partners, collaborators, co-conspirators
Use it when you’re thinking about building your own business/practise/community
Print it out. Copy and paste the pointers into your SOW or contract of services and figure out where you want to fit these points in. What do they look like for you?
If you’re interested in creating and designing equitable, culturally competent and sustainable futures, read on:
We challenge the status quo so that we can design more equitable futures
In order to continually build more equitable futures, we work with clients from a place of non-judgement and open mindedness. We can help you challenge the current status quo by imagining and bringing to life new ways of thinking and doing.
2. We break silos so that ideas can be shared, cross-pollinated
We live in an increasingly complex, globalized world and there is much to be learnt from others and to also recognise our impact on the ecosystem within which we operate. We can help you break down your own silos, to see more clearly and breathe fresh air into stagnant spaces.
3. Get started when your ideas are imperfect
This applies to everyone and is an important part of getting the work done. Oftentimes great ideas are stalled because there’s been hesitation around getting these ideas out of your mind and then if you do, not knowing who to speak to! We can be your sounding board, helping you understand what it is that you’re looking to answer. A brief can be co-created.
4. Research + considered action plan = Manifesting new worlds and realities.
We want to work with clients that want to embed and action our research findings, we do not want our research to sit in a deck or a folder where it is of no use.
5. Moving forward with care strategy, consideration and intention.
Have we not disrupted enough? Have we not broken enough? Have we not been burnt out enough? I think the last few years have taught me that if we keep moving forward in the name of “progress” without considering the impact on a global majority, we really aren’t moving forward at all.
Can we move with careful strategy and slow down for a natural speed up later? Otherwise we end up like this guy.
6. Space to dream and rest, for all of us.
Following on from the last point, slowing down also means allowing for rest and recuperation. I read an article about how basketball players that were training for the NBA ended up doing really well in their trials post 2020 than any other year. Why? They got to rest.
The same applies in business. We need to respect working hours, play hours and rest hours. When these start to bleed into each other, we create chaotic environments, which can quickly become toxic. Again, things will feel like they’re moving fast but really you’re going nowhere.
7. Knowing, believing and charging our worth. No negotiations.
This is probably the hardest part of this manifesto because it requires belief in what you provide. A practical tip here would be to break down each and every part of your process, account for the time it takes and think about an amount that you’d be happy to be paid and add up to 25%.
There will likely still be negotiations but when you have the process of why you’ve arrived at this number to back you, it is more than likely that you will be paid your worth.
8. Intersectional teams provide value beyond measure and require continual learning and re-programming around our language and biases.
100kicks main collaborators and contributors are folks that come from underrepresented backgrounds and this is intentional because there is immense value in having a kaleidoscope of perspectives. This means that we need to be careful how we address and respect each other. Simple way to embed this? Ask and share your pronouns proactively.
9. Getting value through believing in and doing the process together.
I know first hand that some people question my expertise and I also know that to an extent this is to do with the body and identity I inhabit.
The value we deliver is intrinsically linked with how bought into our process the client is.
Having clear communication sessions that allow for expectation settings a chance to allow the humans in the process to bring their emotions to the table is really pivotal for project success.
More writing on this will follow at a later date, this will be further help in having the conversation around “ways of working” but not how you have seen it before.
10. Working relationships exist beyond a delivered project.
Work is kinda…personal. I think this has for long been seen as a bad thing but I would encourage us to think of it as an inevitable outcome of spending a good chunk of our time with the people we’re working with.
Even post a project, we want to know how you’re doing and we want to keep you up to date with what we’re up to. Maybe we might need to work with each other again and an intact relationship helps keep that process smooth.
I hope this toolkit does manifest beyond me and I am keen to collect examples of how it may be being used, so do get in touch and tell us your thoughts!
