Recently, Petra Coach hosted a Coaches’ Corner – a 1-hour session of live Q&A with Certified Petra Coaches. This webinar featured Certified Petra Coaches Jason Rush, Mark Comiso and Greg Eisen.
The content is invaluable to leaders during this unprecedented time.
You can find the full recording here.
To augment the recording, below is a brief recap of questions and answers from the session.
Q: Q4 is coming up – Can we really do any strategic planning for 2021 when so many things are uncertain?
This is the most important time to do planning and know where you want your business to be. Look at the structure of your business and your products and services and see where you can go. This is our new normal and things are not going back to how they were – you need to move forward from here. Planning will identify goals for your team to work towards.
Q: Given the uncertainties in government stimulus programs – what are you seeing business do in regard to cash, credits lines, etc? How are you seeing people treat cash in this environment?
Right now there are a lot of question marks around stimulus and whether or not there is going to be a second round.
Cash is still king – Be smart about what you have in the bank and look at where you can sure up those reserves. You don’t want to be desperate for the cash, so get it when you don’t need it
The credit markets and just going to get tighter and tighter – create a good relationship with your banker.
Q: What are you seeing to be the most important characteristics of today’s leaders?
Nothing is more important than empathy and compassion right now. Teams are dealing with both personal and professional issues right now and leaders need to be listening, understanding and caring for the team and their challenges
Being decisive and focused is so important right now too. Leaders need to be able to point their team in the right direction. You don’t have to have all the answers, you just need to be going somewhere and giving your team direction
Resilience is also key. You need to be able to dust yourself off and get back up.
Q: How do you become more decisive?
Understanding the outcome or goal you are looking for. Choose progress over perfection – you don’t need to get it right, but you need to move.
Q: Why can’t my team just ‘get over it’ and move on with doing the tasks that need to get done?
Be real with your team and let them know the direction where you and the company are going. Think about the “why” behind their mindset. Ask if they have things going on at home. Do they have kids and are struggling with the school situation? Understand why they are feeling the way they are – both on a business level and a personal level
Q: Can we hear more about compassion to current circumstances? Every business we work with is bracing for a further market crash, and it’s harder than ever to get people to invest in services to improve their business when they’re struggling to stay open. Knowing that, I’m struggling with messaging.
Have empathy and understand that everybody is going through something – everybody has a story and is going through something whether you may know it or not.
It’s not about selling right now; it’s about listening to what people need, so lead with listening and understanding. Create that relationship where they feel comfortable coming to you, knowing you will listen. Stay with them and beside them to help. Give just a little more than you get every single day.
Q: Routines have been disrupted these last 5 months – some have done well and some have not. What guidance do you have to get back to creating healthy productive routines?
Right now there is a lot of fatigue with routines – people aren’t taking vacations that they had planned, etc. Think about the routines you have right now and how you can make small changes. Think of ways to bring new energy and excitement back.
Q: How are you seeing leaders successfully manage all the information that is being thrown out?
Turn off the news and get down to the source information. Find a source you trust and focus on what is going to help you.
For more options specific to your organization, contact us at info@petracoach.com or set up a FREE 30-min coaching call with one of our Certified Petra Coaches.
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