SIX LETTERS. PUNCTUATION. AND A SEQUEL

Over the last number of years, I’ve given countless presentations telling the Cooper Parry story. I love taking people on our journey. The highs and lows. Warts and all. But one slide consistently delivers the greatest impact. It punctuates the air. And little wonder. It’s just six letters and an exclamation mark. “OH F**K!”, it proclaims.

At this point in the narrative, I arrive at the car crash that was the financial crisis of 2008. Going forward, the last few weeks will become “OH F**K 2!”, The Sequel. No question. Totally different times and triggers, yes. But, from a business POV, there are also many familiar echoes.

As we open the fourth week of lockdown, I’m reflecting (I have time to do this) on leading a business in these extraordinary times. Our offices have been shut for weeks, yet tech infrastructure has enabled us, not only to avoid paralysis, but to positively propel forwards. Of course, the word ‘unprecedented’ has been used an unprecedented number of times. But one thing, above all others, has shone beacon-like. And that’s the resilience, creativity, good humour and great talent of the CP family.

So, as we’re all forced to strap in (the seat belt seems pathetically inadequate) and take this hellish and surreal roller-coaster ride, here are a handful of my observations on recent weeks.

LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. GET USED TO IT

I don’t just mean business life. I mean life itself. Big claim, but true. Whilst we will no doubt slip back to old ways in many ways, we will challenge every decision far more. From the number of times we jump in our cars and the voracity with which we wash our hands, to whether we need as much office space or as many get-together events in one physical location. As a 5 generational business, we’ve always asked the big questions from cool different perspectives. We will now keep asking the massive ones. And that’s gotta be a good thing. It’s quoted that 84% of people will base their decisions on future business purchases on how companies behave during this shitstorm. Of course they will.

OPEN UP. SHARE MORE

Every week I wrap up the week’s news across the business and share it over Teams with everyone in the business. Straight to their home/office. I am happy to put everything out there. It’s important. This is no time for spin or agenda. This is only about two key things; the health of our people and the health of our business. I’ve had to share the harsh realities of furloughing people, reducing hours, salary and promotion freezes, as well as reporting the monthly numbers (holding up really well as it happens). I remain glass-half-full positive, but I don’t sugar coat. I wouldn’t want that, so why should I expect anyone else to? I also make time to check in with people on one-to-ones. In times BC, I’d do this every day around the business. So, it’s the same – but different. And still needs doing.

FOOT TO THE METAL

Remember when we used to drive? And the joy of acceleration? Well, we don’t do that right now, but boy is it happening in other ways. At CP, we’ve always been proud of our digital culture. Never more so than now. But I’ve been genuinely staggered by the sheer pace of change. We are learning new stuff – every single day. Businesses that had a vague two year plan to transform digitally have been forced to do this, literally, overnight. The challenge is not adopting change, it’s adapting to it. If your purpose and culture are robust, you’ll be fine. If they are not, throw everything behind it before it’s too late. Gallup research indicates that a good job – more than anything – makes people happy.

BE GRATEFUL, BY THE PLATE FULL

Little things. I had a movie night last week with my two kids. Nothing unusual in that. But I don’t think I’d ever had one with them, where we were up wrapped in a duvet. In bed. Not on the sofa. Munching on sweets. Laughing. Larking about. That was a first. As a family, we cook more together. We read more. Play more games. Listen to stuff. And, probably like most parents with kids at home, I have a deeper new respect for teachers. I’ve also Facetimed my folks every day (further apart, but somehow much closer) and sorted their on-line food delivery. More firsts. Each one for which I’m grateful.

BE THAT SPONGE. BUT WRING IT OUT

I’ve always been a reader (used to be newspapers but no longer). A listener too. Right now, I’m consuming Ben Greenfield’s ‘Boundless’ and ‘Business Adventures’ by John Brooks. I love exploring new ideas and hearing lessons learned. I don’t agree with all of it, but I see the value in it. Just like I do in Dave Asprey’s biohacking Bulletproof diet. I want more energy. I want to be a better human being too. Why wouldn’t I? And whether I get to live to 180 or not, I want to give it my best shot. I’m an ideas sponge, but I’m not a preacher. So, whilst I’m happy to share my views and thoughts, I won’t impose them.

WE THRIVE ON DISRUPTION. THIS IS EPIC DISRUPTION

When this all kicked off, I was shaken to the core. I feared for the business, our people, my personal financial state and my family’s health. It was a natural response, but it still shocked me. Then the entrepreneurial mindset kicked in. Lessons learned twelve years ago surged to front of mind. This was about survival. Difficult decisions had to be taken. And made fast. For the benefit of the majority. Tony Robbins says that it “doesn’t matter where the economy is headed. It’s how you react – or don’t react - to changes in the market that matters most.” We have to keep adapting for our clients and pivot new ways of working. We need to be agile. Thoughtful. Innovative. We must keep taking the lead (in this business our points of reference are very rarely found within our sector) and making life count (like some of the extraordinary voluntary work our teams are involved in). We have to do all of this this now, for the future.