Today I want to do something a little different and highlight an interview with Dave Hooke that we did during our virtual intensive back in April. In it, he breaks down some things that he’s done to pivot his business because he, like most of us, realizes that this crisis probably isn’t going away any time soon.
Dave pointed out that the crisis has caused him to protect his business and his people. One of the things he did was go through and cut a lot of ‘fat’ out of the business. You can cut a lot just by looking at it really thoroughly - something most people don’t do. He was able to cut his budget in half without having to do too much.
That kind of protection was done, and now they’re looking into the future. Dave recounts a podcast called “Don’t Waste a Crisis” which was themed around being a light to others and taking the chance to be a blessing to others. Where there’s more need, there’s more opportunity.
If you’re in a leadership position, your people are counting on you to step into that role of fulfilling what people need from you. It can be isolating and even scary. People look to you for instruction and guidance, but you haven’t done this before either. You don’t have to have all the answers, but you can ask how they’re doing today.
- What are we doing?
- Why does it matter?
- How can I help?
These are the fundamental basics that always need to be asked and answered when it comes to a crisis. This crisis actually helped Dave’s team to double down on their core values!
The change that comes as a result of the crisis doesn’t come in the answer to the first two questions. Those won’t really change. The big change comes from the last question - how can I help?
The health of your company isn’t measured in GCI alone. You can have a year where you lower your sales goals and instead work on being there for your kids and family. You may have a year where your goals are different than they’ve ever looked.
It’s important to give yourself a break, and there are still opportunities to bless your team and your families. The redefining of “how can I help?” is the biggest move forward. Reiterating to your team that your “what” and “why” questions aren’t changing.
