Why pausing is a powerful force for progress
One thing we can certainly agree after COVID is that life was placed on pause and in the process economies crashed, millions become mothballed or unemployed and billions were confined to their homes.
And the good news…?
In between the black and the white and from the negative and nothing can come something positive.
In the words of the eternal optimist Dolly Parton,?‘you’ve got to accept the rain, if you want to see the rainbow.’
Therefore a PAUSE...in normality, can often provide some headroom for abnormality and the exceptional. A break from the deeply ingrained habits of repeated, learned, 'thoughtless' behaviour from Systems 1 thinking, can give rise to more Systems 2, disruptive thoughts and consequential behaviours.??
And where are we more 'thoughtless' in our thinking than how we think about and treat people? Despite the fact that at the heart of what any business is about, are the?relationships?we enjoy with various groups of people.
Isn’t the purpose of business, crudely, to build?relationships?with people within and ‘outside’ your organisation, to form superior bonds of preference, loyalty and ultimately advocacy for what your business stands for, ‘offers’ and is purposefully here to do???Better than your competition?
Those relationships are of course represented in people’s minds as your brand.?
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A pause provides a unique moment to take stock of those relationships and hence your brand.
Who has what type of relationship with us? What are they thinking and feeling about?what?we do,?how?we do it and?why, at a time of political and planetary crises, economic hardship and societal schism?
What as business leaders do we ourselves think and feel about the relationships we have with the businesses we are part of? Do we really feel part of them? Are they us, are we them? Are we all code sharing ideals, ideas and inspiration as employees, partners, suppliers, customers, clients?
What brand were you, are you and might you wish to become as a business? What could and should people build in their heads around your name; what do you need to do, say and be to help them form the right impressions and relationships with you?
Perhaps now, as this year starts an approach to its end, is the time to embrace a pause to define the brand?your business can become and the more valued and valuable relationships it can create.
Mark Taylor is Founder of Branding Counsel MT, providing bespoke counsel to a limited number of high-integrity, right-minded clients. Previous clients of Mark's have included GWR, Caledonian MacBrayne, Skerryvore Asset Management, Isle of Harris Distillers, R&B Distillers, Gatwick Airport and Elemis.
Employment lawyer | Writer to the Signet | Consultant | Law entrepreneur
4 年Your points are well made Mark and they apply to any business, whatever the sector. Starting by seeing one’s self anew against this fast moving backdrop is essential. Working your way out from there can take you to a different and improved business that aligns better to your purpose and is therefore easier to communicate to those around you because it is authentic. Should this approach extend to how you evolve existing relationships with competitors? Yes it should. We all need to help each other just now and someone who is a competitor one day can be an ally the next. Don’t be afraid to make the first approach. It can mark you out as someone who believes in your business but is honest enough to seek help. More importantly what kind of support can you offer other businesses that are struggling? There is nothing to lose but it could mark the beginning of a mutually beneficial long term relationship.