Protect & Build Better

We've been dealt a crisis and an opportunity. The crisis is something we tragically see all around us, with its clear impact on health, lives and livelihoods.

But we also have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink business, and figure out how we can create successful commercial models that serve a bigger, more human and more conscious purpose.

"Protect and Build Better" is a framework for maximising the probability of survival through the crisis and recession, while at the same time building a forward-looking, profitable and purpose-led organisation. Here are its high level principles and the story that shaped it. The story where we nearly lost our company coming out of the crisis.

Bite size reflections on leading through this crisis

Leading in Crisis (4) – Be open

Out of 7 roles of authority, business leaders currently rank last in public opinion of response to the Covid Crisis. Behind journalists. Behind government leaders. Why is that? My guess would be that it's because most are doing a shocking job of listening to and looking after their teams. It's ... Read More

Leading in crisis (3) – Confidence

If you lead a business, the last thing your team needs right now is brazen acts of vulnerability. (Let the trolling commence!). In times of crisis, we need leaders who inspire confidence in the direction we're going. Because confidence turns purpose from fantasy to hope. But most of us can't ... Read More

Leading in crisis (2) – Hope

Crisis brings fear; crisis wreaks havoc; crisis destroys. Crisis brings hope. Crisis presents opportunity. Crisis creates. With everything around us, most people only see the first set of options. But If we want our teams and businesses to emerge stronger and create a better future, we \*have to\* show them ... Read More

Leading in crisis (1) – Values

{Leading in crisis - Video 1 of 5, Values} There's this great quote about Abraham Lincoln that I love. "If you wish to know what a man really is, give him power". (Note that if you look at the relative success that many countries with female leaders have had dealing ... Read More

Less than 10% of us want to go back to normal

A recent YouGov poll found that less than 10% of those questioned wanted life to return to "normal" after the crisis is over. Almost all the things that people want from "new normal" relate to community, environment and lifestyle / balance. What's not in the survey is the fact (I ... Read More

The need to lead

If you're a business leader, your leadership will not be defined more clearly than it is right now. How you lead your team will deepen trust. Or shatter it. We're facing extreme uncertainty. High stakes. Health AND livelihoods at risk. How do you lead through it? Most important, lead with ... Read More

Your team doesn’t need to hang around in the recovery

The actions you take (or don't take) to help you survive the crisis can easily destroy your business in the recovery that follows. Ask me how I know! I've led business through a number of recessions. The one that hurt most was the first dot com crash. We made it ... Read More

Cash or Values First?

Crises test our values. Often, the only solution we can see is between preserving our cash or preserving our values. Best solution BY FAR? Find a way for it not to be a choice. Find a way to preserve both. Meaning make sure values inform the cash options you weigh ... Read More

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