The most important thing during this period is your mindset. Are you letting yourself be guided by the messages we are flooded with in newspapers, on TV, and on social media? And are you letting yourself be guided by disappointing figures? Or are you looking at the possibilities? What can we do, what can we do differently, or even better? Survive Entrepreneur 2020 is essential in this regard.
Circle of Influence
Additionally, in this blog I would like to Circle of Influence and the Circle of Involvement present to you. Stephen Covey is the creator and founder of the Circle of Influence. The circle describes how you can increase your influence by acting proactively. Furthermore, what influence do you have on a particular situation and how do you deal with it? Many people often spend a considerable amount of time on the so-called Circle of Concern. Put differently: these are matters in daily life over which you cannot exert direct influence yourself, but which can occupy you greatly and distract you considerably.
These are things like:
- The coronavirus
- The mood of a colleague
- Weather
- The new RIVM measures
- A possible new lockdown
Furthermore, the moment you start worrying excessively about that, it has a direct impact on your Circle of Influence. It will, in fact, become smaller.
People who do not allow themselves to be distracted by matters that belong in the Circle of Involvement (issues over which you have no direct influence), but focus on matters that belong in the Circle of Influence are many times more proactive, more creative and also more successful. .
Consequently, their Circle of Influence will be expanded as a result. Things you *do* have influence over are:
- Compliance with the measures to control the coronavirus
- Healthier life
- Working on your personal development
- Adjust your company where necessary so that you are back on a new and good course
- Be creative and see where the opportunities lie
- Working on improving internal processes
In a company you often deal with a board of directors, a management team and employees. And how do you ensure that your employees focus on matters that belong in their Circle of Influence? And what do you do when your management is more concerned with matters that belong in their Circle of Involvement?!
Communication
Furthermore, the most important thing is, of course, communication. Talk to each other, show understanding for one another, and support each other. Be clear in your communication about what you expect from your employees or MT team, and especially why you expect it from them. Explain where you want to take your company and fully involve your team in this. Even though many people are currently working from home, invest in the development of your team. Ensure that you stay in contact with your people and create an internal climate where employees feel safe. A climate where they dare to speak up if they need help or if they are feeling overwhelmed. Coach your people to be creative and to think in terms of opportunities. Foster resilience within your organization and among your people. In short, a manager must realize that not everyone deals with the current COVID-19 situation in the same way. Therefore, adapt your leadership style accordingly. Take a close look at the person in front of you.
Many entrepreneurs are now mainly busy keeping their company afloat, but sometimes forget to keep looking ahead, because - fortunately - there is also a period after Corona! In that process of 'survival', entrepreneurs sometimes forget their most important capital, namely people.
Incidentally, if you do look to the future and take good care of your people, you will certainly emerge stronger as a company. Perhaps not in every industry in terms of revenue, but certainly as a team, and you will be ready for better times.
Let's go for that together and work towards it, together on the way to better times!
However, Thamar Pessel
You can find more background information about Survive Entrepreneur 2020 at survive entrepreneur 2020 (Wikipedia).