Shared Reading in the Workplace Q&A – National Museums Liverpool (NML)

For Jamiejohn Anderson, Executive Director of Operations, at National Museums Liverpool Shared Reading in the workplace had a powerful yet poignant impact on his personal life. 

Can you please tell us a bit about what your role involves? 

My role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from looking after all of the commercial activity and shops to enhancing visitor experiences, and overseeing events, security, estates, health and safety and hospitality across multiple sites at NML.    

How did you first experience Shared Reading in your Workplace? 

Our director at NML arranged for The Reader to come in and do some Shared Reading taster sessions with the extended leadership team last year. Two members of staff ran the sessions, and we split into two small groups. I very much enjoyed Shared Reading. It was quite a revelation for me. I found it quite like meditation, enlightening and a really good way to collaborate with each other.  

What would you say was particularly special for you about the experience of Shared Reading in the Workplace?  

It was so therapeutic and revelatory that it inspired me to pick up a book and read to my mum who had recently been admitted into a hospice where she was receiving end-of-life care. All of my family had defined roles with mum, and Shared Reading became our special thing, and it was meaningful and powerful.  

What did you read together? 

Our favourite book was Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson, a 1997 memoir by American author Mitch Albom, which is about coming to terms with mortality. As my mum was coming to terms with her own mortality it was a very special book to read together throughout her time there. I’d read three or four pages at a time and then we’d discuss how it made us feel. We also read The Life of Pi by Yann Martel, which was actually quite difficult to read out loud, and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, a really lovely read although we did not manage to finish it.  

How has this impacted you as an individual in your personal or professional life?  

I don’t think my mum and I would’ve had this experience together if I had not been exposed to Shared Reading.  

It also inspired me to want to give back. In my role it’s quite common to be part of a charitable trust and board. I have been a longtime fan of what The Reader has done in Calderstones Park and saw the charity was looking for new members for its social enterprise CIC board. I couldn’t pass up the chance to get involved with this wonderful charity to strategically support and leverage my experience in a meaningful way.  

What would you say to any other company execs or organisations interested in exploring how Shared Reading could be brought to their place of work? 

I’d say think about the issues that you’d like to tackle at your workplace and give Shared Reading a go and see what it has to offer in providing meaningful connection and collaboration and supporting wellbeing. It won’t be for everyone as some people might see it as a hurdle - like being at school. Although the main difference is Shared Reading aims to provide a relaxed, creative, safe space for discussion - and there is no pressure to read aloud or to talk. 

The Reader can create a training and support package for companies, charities and organisations to enable staff to deliver Shared reading groups themselves.  

It can also offer taster or one-off sessions for groups who may want a Shared Reading session less frequently or wish to hold a Shared Reading session to focus on a particular theme or issue such as conflict resolution, confidence building or to explore texts that help facilitate difficult conversations. 

Central to this is creating a space where people – regardless of age, background or ability – feel safe, valued and listened to.  

For further information about Shared Reading in the Workplace visit here or please contact development@thereader.org.uk