The Recovery Phase: Time to Take Action
Jim King 07.14.2021
With summer now upon us, and with many people now vaccinated, we’re entering a new season where it’s time for us to shine. The clouds of the pandemic are rolling away, making room for us to fully open our businesses and devise plans for the future. There are still challenges to conquer, but with the right attitude and the right approach, we can emerge stronger than ever.
Another Period of Rapid Change
In the spring of 2020, as we headed into lockdown, we endured a lot of unexpected change in a short period of time. It felt hard, but for the most part we rose to the occasion and did what was needed to make the most of daunting circumstances. Now, as things open up, we should expect somewhat of a bumpy ride again during the recovery phase. That’s OK, we’ll get through it, but we should maintain an awareness of what we’re going through, to provide some perspective. There are also things that can be done during this time frame that will position our organizations for long-term success.
Develop New Ways of Doing Things
It’s important to take the learnings that come out of this experience and leverage them into speed, agility, and revenue for our companies. “Getting back to normal” is not a path to a successful future. Every manufacturer should be working to redefine their work structure during this recovery phase. It’s hard work, and there’s no business training that provides a template for success. But we’re looking for a new way forward, (and if we’re not, I believe we should be) and mapping out where this will take us in the coming year. This involves developing new and innovative ways of doing things that will carry us forward.
Become Externally Focused Again
For the last 16 months we’ve been hunkered down and introspective. As we transition, we’re starting to look outside of ourselves and become externally focused again. This means we need to be making decisions that are customer-centric rather than based on survival mode, and ensure that meeting customer needs is a top priority.
Intentionality is Key
Intentionality is another key factor to consider right now. It can be very tempting to just stand by and let the recovery happen while maintaining a passive stance, waiting for things to get back to normal. However, if you don’t take control as you recover, in my opinion this will not result in a positive outcome. If you want acceleration in your business, you need to actively take charge and forge a new path.
We must be intentional in this whole process. This means we need to get in the game as an active participant. Use your voice, form carefully considered opinions, and share your thoughts with your team. You can only expect a positive outcome when you’ve been an active participant in shaping and creating the process.
Do These Three Things
During this recovery phase, there will be newness and chaos (again!). If you pay attention to three critical things, they can become guideposts for your journey. First, look for new, innovative ways of doing things. Second, keep your eyes open to your customers’ needs and find ways to fulfill them. And finally, be intentional, proactive and engaged in your company’s processes. If you do these things, in a positive, forward-thinking manner, you’ll see opportunities arise. More importantly, you’ll be ready to seize them. It’s time to get ready, get going, and take action.
About Jim King
Jim King is President and COO, Okuma America Corporation.
Connect with Jim on LinkedIn.