The most important thing during this period is your mindset. Are you guided by the messages we are flooded with in newspapers, on TV and social media? And are you guided by disappointing figures? Or are you looking at the possibilities? What can we do, what can we do differently or even better?

Circle of Influence

In this blog I would like to Circle of Influence and the Circle of Involvement present to you. Stephen Covey is the creator and founder of the Circle of Influence. The circle describes how you can increase your influence by acting proactively. What influence do you have on a certain situation and how do you deal with it? Many people often spend quite a bit of time on the so-called Circle of Involvement. In other words: these are matters in daily life over which you have no direct influence, but which can keep you very busy and can be quite distracting.

These are things like:

• The coronavirus
• The mood of a colleague
• Weather
• The new RIVM measures
• A possible new lockdown

The moment you start to worry about this, it will directly affect your Circle of Influence. This will become smaller.

People who do not allow themselves to be distracted by matters that belong in the Circle of Involvement (issues over which you have no direct influence), but focus on matters that belong in the Circle of Influence are many times more proactive, more creative and also more successful. .

Their Circle of Influence will therefore be expanded. Things you do have influence on are:

• Compliance with the measures to control the coronavirus
• Healthier life
• Working on your personal development
• Adjust your company where necessary so that you are back on a new and good course
• Be creative and see where the opportunities lie
• Working on improving internal processes

In a company you often deal with a board of directors, a management team and employees. And how do you ensure that your employees focus on matters that belong in their Circle of Influence? And what do you do when your management is more concerned with matters that belong in their Circle of Involvement?!

Communication

The most important thing is of course communication. Talk to each other, show understanding for each other and support each other. Be clear in your communication what you expect from your employees or MT team and especially why you expect it from them. Tell us where you want to go with your company and fully involve your team. Even though many people are now working from home, invest in the development of your team. Make sure you stay in touch with people and create such an internal climate that employees feel safe. That they also dare to say it when they need help or when they just don't feel like it anymore. Coach your people to be creative and think in opportunities. Ensure resilience in your organization and among your people. A manager will have to realize that not everyone deals with the current COVID-19 situation the same. Therefore, also adjust your management style. Look carefully at the person you have in front of you.

Many entrepreneurs are now mainly busy keeping their company afloat, but sometimes forget to keep looking ahead, because - fortunately - there is also a period after Corona! In that process of 'survival', entrepreneurs sometimes forget their most important capital, namely people.

If you look to the future and take good care of your people, you will certainly emerge stronger as a company. Perhaps not in every sector in terms of turnover, but as a team you are ready for better times.

Let's go for that together and work towards it, together on the way to better times!

Thamar Pessel