Paying It Forward in 2021
The numerous universal examples of "Service Above Self" that I have seen throughout my life and especially in the last year have inspired me to continue to give back to others and pay it forward even more in 2021
New Years Eve 2020 - Colgate Clock - Jersey City
The numerous universal examples of "Service Above Self" that I have seen throughout my life and especially in the last year have inspired me to continue to give back to others and pay it forward even more in 2021.
I have decided that one of my personal goals for 2021 is to make available free of charge, three 45-minute business mentoring/coaching sessions per week to individuals or businesses. I am happy to discuss whether this is on an individual, team or organizational level. So if you, or anyone you may know could benefit from 45 minutes of professional qualified mentoring/coaching, please share this email, book a 45 minute session via this link
Why am I doing this? Well, just before midnight on the 31st December 2020 I went for a walk beside the Hudson River where I live, and I took this photograph of the World Trade Centre and Manhattan. I reflected on the beginning of 2020 when I sent an e-shot in which I mentioned how we were now living in a new decade which was being referred to as “The Roaring Twenties” all of which was terribly exciting, and after a challenging past decade for many of us, it was now our time to seize the day and plan carefully for the future, both in our business and personal lives.
I don’t need to tell you that 2020 hasn’t been easy for many of us but if there was one positive aspect of the world we have all seen over the last year it is that we have all in our own ways tried to help each other. And I’ve learned over the years that when situations might appear at their worst, it will almost always bring out the best in people.
In the last year, I provided pro-bono coaching sessions to the many individuals who needed help. Many persons found their businesses and personal lives in severe difficulties. Working with me has given people the opportunity to gain clarity both in the here and now as well as the future.
Think about what you want to create not just in 2021 but beyond that in 2025, 2030 and beyond, not just for your professional and business world but your personal life. This is my work and my passion. Helping those to have a successful future.
I wish you all the very best in 2021.
Peter Gourri
Taking Care of Yourself and Others
I was delighted to be a guest on the "The Modern Manager" Podcast with Mamie Kanfer Stewart where I talked to her about business leaders taking care of themselves and others in the Covid-19 era.
When we entered this pandemic I made a promise to myself that I would not write any articles or emails about Covid-19. We are 6 months into this very strange and stressful period in history and so I decided to review my position as any leader should, and break my promise. I was delighted to be a guest on the "The Modern Manager" Podcast with Mamie Kanfer Stewart where I talked to her about business leaders taking care of themselves and others in the Covid-19 era.
You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on this link which will take you to Mamie's podcast page.
I can’t guarantee there won’t be challenges in the future but I can promise you will find listening helpful. Remote working, limited public life and human interaction, rising tensions, and mounting uncertainty, has taken its toll upon many worldwide. Only today I was reading just how badly people have been affected and let's be honest, there are few who have not been affected, either directly or indirectly, by the Pandemic. Many managers, business leaders, and their team members are experiencing non-stop excess stress, overwhelm, and are nearing burnout. This isn’t healthy or sustainable.
Mamie and I talk about how to take care of yourself and your team members during this time of immense stress and uncertainty. We get into some healthy self-care practices that are good even when there isn’t a pandemic, how to take advantage of this strange time, and more beyond. You can also Subscribe to the newsletter for "The Modern Manager" to further get further episodes, articles, and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. You can also read the related blog article Self Care Tips For Managers And Teams During COVID-19
The Key Takeaways from our discussion are:
Because our mood heavily impacts how we see the world when under excess stress, it's easy to misinterpret actions or written communications (e.g. email or chat). Before assuming the worst, consider the facts vs your interpretation of them. Pause before responding when you feel emotionally triggered. Take a break and return to the situation with fresh eyes and a calm mind.
Give yourself and others a break. We’re all navigating the same complex, confusing and stressful situation. Beating yourself up helps no one, especially your team.
Make time in your calendar for self-care, including the time to do simple things like to prepare and eat meals, go for walks or exercise, etc. Offer to switch a video meeting to audio-only or a phone call to have a bit of a break for everyone. Maybe try a socially distanced walk to have an in-person meeting but only if it is safe to do so and proper precautions are taken in accordance with the relevant advice from the authorities.
Take vacation time even if there is nowhere to go. There are plenty of things you can do if you put your mind to it. Discover a new park within driving distance or simply take a personal day at home to relax. Encourage your team members to take breaks and time off. You can be a role model this healthy behavior for them by leading by example.
Take up a new hobby or find an activity that energizes you. Or design a project for yourself and work toward it. Create a future vision for yourself by writing a letter to yourself as if you’ve achieved that future state. It will give you something to aim towards and remain focused. Spend time investing in the skills that will help you advance your career or business. Take an online course, etc. Know that you will get through this and be stronger because of this experience, no matter how challenging it is.
If you would like to explore any aspect of your business or career, please do not hesitate to book a session with me using the link here. You never know, it might just make an enormous difference and it what I do! I already make a difference to individuals and businesses. I can help you and your business too.
Why you need to think about contingency planning
It is never too late to do so and whether you are a business or simply in your personal lives, these suggestions might help. I stress that this is not a comprehensive authoritative list.
When considering where things are at the moment, with all the stress of COVID-19, think about your contingency planning.
Why is it a good idea to have a contingency plan?
It is never too late to do so and whether you are a business or simply in your personal lives, these suggestions might help. I stress that this is not a comprehensive authoritative list. Just some thoughts that might help give you a head start with your own ideas and thoughts, starting with the How, Where, Who and What of contingency planning.
How will I be able to make it work
How will circumstances change the way you or your employees are able to undertake their work? Can you work at home? What do you do about the kids, internet bandwidth being under strain, the dogs barking curing conference calls or even elderly relatives popping in to see what you are up to! If you are living in limited space and your partner, roommate, family members or the like are also having to work from home, agree boundaries and rules. Make sure you have a healthy routine. Eat, sleep and eat as if you were in the office.
Where will I be spending most of my time
Will your business be able to operate. Can it work remotely without interruptions? Are the systems in place to enable this? We are so used to everything working when we expect it, we forget to test for redundancy in the event something goes wrong. Working from home has its own challenges in terms of productivity. Everyone can slip into bad habits both in terms of working too little or too much for that matter. Does everyone have sufficient and appropriate equipment to work at home. Is it actually there? What is required?
Who must be notified?
Our immediate thoughts might be employees or business partners/colleagues but what about clients. Reassure them you are fully available, and you have plans in place for uninterrupted. Also consider connecting with landlords, bankers, accountants, lawyers and other professionals who might be able to help you. Just give them a heads up so they can support you when you need it. Also, other people in your field of business. It is always heartwarming how even competitors will come together to help each other in difficult times. Think about having in place an emergency chain of command if things go wrong. Perhaps have triangle communications system for staff members to update others even if you do have a system in place for group electronic updates via WhatsApp, text, email etc. People need human contact. And don’t forget to keep staff members updated and in contact with each other. Group video conference meetings are so easy to do these days and it helps those members of staff to feel the support of both team and business.
What systems and processes will be affected?
What can only be undertaken in the business environment manually? Artists pictures can be online but what do you do if they are sold and your gallery is in lockdown. What about your notes from that meeting before the office was closed or the camera you took those photos on when you did a site inspection, that you left in a drawer in the office? You get the picture! In my world, I can survive with a smart phone which has internet service and my headphones but that is not the same for all businesses.
Lastly, remember to breathe
So many people are approaching me because they find themselves in overwhelm. The most important thing to remember is it’s fine. There’s a lot going on. My suggestion for you is to take a step back, get some elevation and gain clarity. Make a plan of what you need to do to achieve your success and then go with it. I stress, these are just some thoughts to help you get started. Plans like these can be several paragraphs or run into hundreds of pages depending on the organization or business.