Andrew Marsh is a leading business mentor, company owner, non-executive director and Vistage chair in the North East. Throughout the last few months, he has seen the ups and downs and the changing face of business for many companies in the region.
Here, he shares his thoughts on what will be happening in the next few impactful months: “So, the Status Quo has been resumed…. “Life is set to return to what we knew it to be, before the last 18 months. No more masks, social distancing, lockdown or working from home. Unless of course you want to. Many people’s morality compass is telling them to continue with what they deem as safe actions which should, of course, be respected. “But whatever you believe in, life will be changing again and no more so than in the business world. What has been an unprecedented and challenging time with the pandemic and Brexit, will now morph into a situation of opportunity, if it is handled right. But what will those opportunities look like, how do we find them and what steps should you be taking to respond appropriately? “Let’s start with the opportunities. People will have more confidence in their projected, long term earnings and will resume a more predictable level of spending – great for suppliers, B2B, retail, leisure and hospitality. It is anticipated the housing market will pick up with more people starting to move home, great for the property market and industries involved. Companies who had staff working from home will return to an office base – great for the commercial property market and for the travel sector as face-to-face meetings across the UK and wider afield re-open. Forward-thinking companies will look for partners for new ventures, for growth and for forward planning – great for anyone open to ideas, with passion and vision. Marketing will become sought after to make sure companies who have been quiet in the last year can, once again, compete in their own marketplace. Mentoring, consultancy services and training will be sought after, as those in leadership positions look for ways to ensure their guidance is taking the company to its next level…. Growth of new geography to trade – an opportunity to expand horizons to new areas, new countries, new sectors or new industries. Everyone will be looking for new opportunity, so try to create them for others, as well as for yourself. Reconnections – don’t forget your old connections/clients too. Get in touch and wish them well for this new era, offering support. Some will have moved onto new challenges, so make sure you are in the know about who is where, doing what! “There are some really positive prospects. The big question is, how to maximise on these opportunities? Some simple steps and actions will open doors at this crucial time, if you are well organised and have vision. “Firstly, ensure that you have the right team in place – this is not just about skills, but about shared goals, dedication, drive and team spirit. This is not a time to carry dead-weight or back fill with wrong people. Profile your current team and then outline what your ideal team would look like. Now shape what you have in your team currently to fit that ideal team image and you will find out what you haven’t already got. “Next look at your marketing – if no-one knows about you, opportunity will be limited. Get word out to your target audience that you are fighting fit, push your services and positives, and be absolutely, totally visible. Be inventive, and if using a consultant make sure they are totally under the skin of the business and of your future vision, otherwise you are setting them and yourself up to fail. They must be trusted, as they are going to be your voice. “As part of that marketing drive, this is a great time to re-establish or boost networking – get out into the real world to ‘safe’ meetings where you can focus on finding the right peers and ambassadors – it makes building relationships so much easier. Join a peer group if you haven’t already and expand your circle. The rewards this brings are multiple and you will recoup any costs if you apply what you learn and use the room of new contacts properly! “Plan, plan and plan. Have goals, set a clear, simple vision and share it with the team. Invest in yourself and in your team too. Find what skills or equipment or services you are missing to smash your goals and source the best place to get them. Picture where you want to be in 12 months, 36 months, five years and plan out how to get there. Draft in help if you need assistance because if you invest in the future, you are making now matter. “Find your business community, other leaders who understand and share ideas, motivation, support and experience. By identifying your trusted peers outside of your paid work environment, as well as identifying those in your inhouse circle of trust, you have a balanced support structure that will make you feel less alone in decision making. “Finally, just don’t wait around. This is not a time to procrastinate. The last 18 months has seen too much of that. Grab your motivation, take your steps, find your opportunities and do what you know should be done! If you need help, then call on me or another experienced business expert to guide, encourage and coach you on this exciting journey
