A boat isn’t designed to sit in a harbour. In fact, it’s only usually making money when it’s out at sea, facing the weather. The story of your business success is no different.
So although it seems we’re heading out in choppy waters all the time at the moment, now’s the time to trust your vessel and build your crew. Here’s how.
1. Be realistic
Many business owners are concerned about the future but facing the truth of where you are is a strong starting point. Hope alone never got anyone anywhere: awareness, clarity, strategy and action work together to focus your efforts and make the best of what you already have to hand.
2. Use culture as a beacon
Come back to basics. What’s your purpose? There’s nothing like wider-picture thinking to motivate your team and lift your resolve when times are challenging. It allows you to think beyond the struggles of the moment to what lies beyond.
3. Keep your crew onboard
Your leadership at a time like this matters. Values and behaviours modelled from the top mean time and energy that could have been wasted to conflict can be diverted into solutions. Communicate daily and don’t overlook regular huddles to keep everyone connected. To stay calm and considerate, make space to step back and breathe so you can retain self-control and perspective. For a concise but effective approach check out Verne Harnish’s 5 Cs of leading in a crisis.
4. Make time to learn
‘What got you here won’t get you there’ Marshall Goldsmith famously wrote. It may feel counterintuitive but investing in your knowledge and mindset so you can adapt and respond is essential. It’s the difference between sailing towards your goal and getting stuck on the rocks. By lifting yourself, you lift those around you, whether you’re talking professionally or personally. If you can’t see the answer yet, you may not have been looking in the right places or asking the right questions. This is where a coach can be invaluable for your business success.
We learn our sailing skills while out at sea
On land, we may become proficient in tying knots and making nets but it’s only by facing the wind that we think on our feet, become technologically proficient and develop a deep reliance on those around us.
What may feel like chaos may be a valuable opportunity to review the course you’re on and make potentially difficult decisions about what’s next and how to use your resources wisely. This level of optimism is not about being unrealistic or hoping for hope’s sake but valuing what we have to hand and having faith that we don’t know everything there is to know yet.
We’re here for you
It’s not just possible to grow in times like this, we think it’s the best time and as a SME with aspirations to scale up, you’re at the heart of economic growth. We’re small business owners too, so we get it, but we also know that we have a unique opportunity to buck the trend. Whether you want to talk about leadership, strategy or organisational change, we’ve got your back.
When you’re ready to talk, feel free to get in touch – we love working with business owners like you!