Weathering the Storm

In our latest blog, Vichy Bevan-Jones explains how strong leadership skills can help you, and your business, weather the storm.

It is hard to believe that it is a year since the first lockdown and what a year it has been! I know personally and as a family, we have ridden the rough seas and all that has been thrown at us. I am all too aware that that hasn’t been the case for many across the country and my heart truly aches for anyone and everyone affected. I’m using the sea as an analogy purely because I live beside the sea and it demonstrates an environment that lends itself to the difficulties we all face, so please forgive me.

As a small business owner, I feel we have weathered the storm so far, we’re still fighting our way through it and I’m sure we’ll come out through the other side somewhat unscathed. The one thing I have been in awe of is the small business community. I have seen businesses adapt, diversify and challenge themselves to seek a path through the storm. These have been truly heroic moments in business and show the true grit of the British public.

A recent report from the Federation of Small Businesses titled New Horizons: How Small Firms are Navigating the COVID 19 Crisis, provides some fascinating statistics:

• 16% of businesses have developed a new or increased online presence
• 10% of all small businesses diversified into producing new services during lockdown
• 57% of small firms are carrying out community roles during the crisis.

A host of recommendations have been put forward which will go some way to help the recovery of our economy and equally important, the recovery of our small business community.

From a leadership perspective, I was really interested to see that 51% of small businesses reported that leadership and management skills are most important for the future growth of their business. Having a guiding light that can navigate the choppy waters of the pandemic and ensure survival is identified as a significant element for the long-term success of a small business. Leadership means fostering a culture and climate of calm, cooperation, and understanding the challenges faced by all the stakeholders of the business.

Being a leader is not an easy task. Leaders need to have the skills to maintain focus whilst also encouraging innovation and growth, they need to understand what motivates individuals within their team, manage conflicts, provide coaching and mentoring, and are ultimately the captain of their ship.

The pandemic has clearly shown how leadership has impacted the ability of a business to change direction, include additional services whilst maintaining the wellbeing and motivation of its teams. Without this, I personally believe, there would have been far more casualties of the pandemic. Leadership is pivotal to the rebuilding of our economies, having the flexibility and adaptability to change course quickly with a team who are equally adaptable and have the buy-in, gives each business the best chance.

Here at ION Leadership, we offer every individual attending either our New Leaders or Leading Growth courses the tools needed to navigate choppy seas with the full support and backing of their team. It has been a long period of change and whilst there is a beacon of hope on the horizon, further need for change will no doubt be the swells and waves we all need to navigate.

If you are interested in finding out more about how we can support you to weather the storm, check out our latest courses and get in touch.