Last week we welcomed visitors from the US Digital Service and 18F over here for the best part of a week to swap stories, experiences, and mistakes.
It. Was. Great.
.@todd_park is in the (@gdsteam) building! "I feel like I'm in the mothership!"
— Sarah Sullivan (@sarahsullivane) June 23, 2015
What did we learn? An awful lot. We learned that, despite our very different political and organisational structures, we have a lot in common.
Great to see @USDS and @18F at @gdsteam — and fun to hear how they're approaching things across the pond.
— Hadley Beeman (@hadleybeeman) June 22, 2015
We realised that sharing is the most important thing we can do in the future. Those stories, experiences, and mistakes become so much more powerful when more people hear about them.
Mind-melding with @gdsteam this week. Thanks to everyone @GOVUK for the warm welcome! https://t.co/VzGqmRB7N6
— Hillary Hartley (@hillary) June 22, 2015
And we concluded that the best way to keep sharing is not just by swapping those stories electronically, but in person, face to face. We need to share people, just as much as we share pain and process.
Thanks once again, American friends. You're welcome back here any time. But you knew that already.
Join the conversation on Twitter (why not follow USDS and 18F too). And don't forget to sign up for email alerts.