March 2021
It’s nearly a year since our country’s first ‘family meeting’. It was going to be three weeks of ‘lockdown’!
The President’s subsequent ‘family meetings’ have left us consternated, elated, and sometimes frustrated.
My business has changed and I’m sure yours has too. I’m no longer organising or attending physical events or meeting clients to catch up over a coffee. It took a few weeks, but the digital touchpoints – webinars, Zoom calls, more WhatsApp groups – are working just fine. Less driving around, less dressing up and going out. With less ‘packaging,’ life’s got more real.
Tackling Complexity
Even when the State of Disaster is eventually lifted, there is no going back to normal. In his book, Rick Nason explains the difference between simple, complicated and complex systems. His theory around complexity is useful if you, like me, are contemplating the next 12 months.
Complex problems are not solved with knowledge or efficiency; but with creativity, adaptability and humility. In contrast to complicated scenarios, complex ones have too many unknown and interrelated variables. Like our current business environment, there is no ‘solution’.
Nason suggests a “Try-Learn-Adapt” approach. Because none of us has been in this situation before, there are no ‘experts’. Knowledge and complicated thinking based on past experiences can be misleading.
Ignoring complexity will not make it go away. Developing a mindset that can cope with ambiguity and uncertainty can be humbling. Because it means looking at the future and acknowledging that we probably have less control than we’re used to.
Planning, not plans
Eisenhower is credited with saying that in preparation for battle, he “always found pans useless, but planning indispensable”.
If you’re looking at the next few quarters’ trying to find solutions, to complexed systems which defy solving, let us rather look at some scenarios with you.
Planned, consistent communication is vital to keep business going. Don’t be ignored, the economy has shrunk and is even more competitive. Let your community of colleagues, clients, customers and suppliers know what you’re up to and allow them to talk back.
We can help you strategise and implement communications campaigns through traditional media channels (which are not dead yet) and can also help to set you up on new ones, such as:
It can be tough and sometimes lonely out there. If you’d like to bounce ideas around, brief us on a campaign, or catch up over a Zoom call, we’d love to hear from you.
Regards
The SWC Team
