Week two leadership conversations in a time of crisis

I got lots of positive feedback on last weeks blog. These are real conversations I’ve had in week commencing 23rd March. Ive kept peoples identities confidential, so I can continue to help them and not create any further complications in what’s already an unprecedented situation.

Here’s week twos edition with my reflections at the end. Please share if you think this will reassure people that many others are facing the same or similar difficult situations or more importantly if it helps people them make the right decisions.

HRD 1 The staff who we’ve furloughed were concerned that when the govt funding stops in 3 months they will be made redundant. Of course we can’t promise this won’t happen we just keep repeating we want to save the business and take as many people with us as possible to the other side. I think they are with us but a lot of quite people on the calls. They are worried 

MD1  Can you help us apply for the Govt loan scheme, I need the cash soon or I will have to cut more of my workers than I want or need to.The banks are not being very helpful I am not sure if it’s thorough ignorance or design. 

CEO 1 I have told finance we need to keep paying our suppliers on time, we have got to treat them as we hope others will treat us. I don’t think they agreed they been silent since!

CEO 2 We’ve a leader who we should of performance managed out of the organisation ages ago. We can’t make them redundant in the middle of this can we ? The rest of our people wouldn’t like it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

MD 2 We trying to create a critical path of all the decisions we need to take and in what order. We also defining what data we need to make each call, the problem is we’re not anticipating what’s going to happen next so we’re having to change the plan ever bl***y day. I am most worried about my 84 year old mum she’s just come out of hospital after surgery and isn’t doing well and not being able to visit her is tough.

HRD 2 When are the Govt going to publish the detail of the employment scheme I have been holding off the team for nearly a week. The pressure is mounting every day they just want to act and in the absence of the detail they will make the wrong call and we will live to regret it. I’ve also got the kids at home and while they make me laugh it’s making concentrating on work hard. I don’t want to let anyone down.

HRD 3 The staff reacted well when we said we are cutting everyone’s pay by 20% lots of questions and energy. I think they are relieved we’re not making people redundant. We live to fight another day.

CEO 2 We’ve done ok, liquidity is fine for the next 6 weeks I just wish people would pay us what they owe us it would enable us to pay our suppliers. This could get sticky we have got to have honest conversations that’s the agenda for next week. 

HRD 2 Thank god for the Govt job scheme it’s given us a life line been though the detail this will help me save 100s of jobs. A nice way to finish the toughest week of my career. 

Reflections on week 2 

In the most part people are calmer and trying to think though ever decision. However underneath the surface lots anxiety lots of people saying they are having sleepless nights and feeling suddenly quite tearful. 

The vast majority of businesses are continuing to do the right thing but are starting to realise this is going to be a long haul.

My advice to top teams is to talk and listen to each other like never before not justmon the work stuff but whats going on for people at home. Simple little acts of kindness are making a big difference keep them coming. 

Stay home, stay healthy and save lives

Kevin Green 

28/3/2020