5 (PRACTICAL) C'S FOR LEADING IN A CRISIS, FROM VERNE HARNISH
As the coronavirus continues to spread from country to country at an alarming rate, so does anxiety and uncertainty. Many of us are feeling overwhelmed about the impact this pandemic will have on our finances and the economy, the health of our loved ones, and what the future after Covid-19 will look like. While some may feel a boost of productivity during this time, it is completely normal to feel paralyzed or unsure of what to do. Just know that you are not alone — millions across the world feel the exact same way. But it is important that we try to think positively, stay connected with one another, and support our communities, especially those most vulnerable to this epidemic, during this difficult time.
Whether you are the owner of a business, the leader of a team, or just trying to find some semblance of normalcy, here are 5 action steps, developed by Verne Harnish, author of Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) you can take:
1. Communicate Daily:
Disclaimer: Harnish says this is the most important step and must be completed first. The others can be done in whatever order makes sense to you. Moving on — daily communication should be sent out to all employees during a crisis, whether it is an email, a 2-minute video, or a voice message.
“Your team wants to know that you’re at the helm of the shop (or flying the plane — pick your favourite analogy) and that you are working and acting. The key is to stick to the facts — no time for rants, theories, or using phrases like ‘I Bet you’re feeling…’. This isn’t time for guessing. Present what is happening, don’t sugarcoat, but balance one negative with several positives.”
2. Customer + Community Support
Rather than turning inward during a crisis, a natural tendency for many, gather teams of employees to brainstorm ways to support customers, community, and one another.
“Your customers will remember this when all of this clears up — and it will clear up! Research shows that one way to combat depression, sadness, etc., is to help someone else.”
3. Clean Up and Catch Up
Before beginning this step, Harnish recommends reading Paul Akers’ book Banish Sloppiness (which you can download for free). Then, it’s time to start spring cleaning your business and catch up on tasks, projects, and assignments that have fallen to the wayside.
“A key focus [of this step] is how to make things easier — for the customers and employees.”
4. Cash, cash, cash
An extension of step three, step four focuses on cleaning up the financial end of your business. This is critical to understanding your current cash flow and the impact Covid-19 will have on operations.
“Review your monthly recurring expenses, I found I was paying for two CRMs, and eliminate redundancies. Involve your entire employee base in finding ways to save money.”
5. Calm and Considerate
As the head of a team, or a business, the way you respond to a crisis sets the tone for the entire organization. Although it may be difficult to stay calm and focused, it’s the only way to forge ahead and create solutions. Ya know the whole “put your oxygen mask on first” metaphor? Remember to breathe. We’ll figure this out.
“At Tony Robbins’ ‘Date with Destiny’ experience, I adopted a new mantra – to approach everything in a ‘Peaceful, Playful, and Passionately’ manner. It’s been helpful, especially during this crisis.”