As I embark on my first time off in 2020, I look back over the last five months and find it difficult to believe just how much it has been possible to experience and learn in a relatively short space of time!
From the initial shock of lock-down, fear for loved ones and my business, to the uncertainty of what we now face moving forward, there have been moments of despair, elation, gratitude, pride, challenge, inspiration and learning that will shape me as a person and business owner for a long time to come.
Heading off on holiday is nerve wracking for so many reasons but I learned yesterday – “don’t set yourself on fire to keep other people warm” so I know it is important to take a break. Running a business, navigating cash-flow, furlough, home schooling, and keeping a family fed, allows very little down time. I always feel privileged to have my own business and the element of control that gives me over my life, along with the possibilities, but I must admit, I’m ready to re-fuel and have some of that ‘said’ down time.
Whether good or bad this has been a time rich in learning – so what has the corona-coaster taught me?
Relationships rock!
During this period, I have found strength in personal and business relationships both new and old that have enabled collaboration, support, and learning.
Working in the world of HR Recruitment, relationships have always been important to us but never more so than now. Having a network of people who want to help, gives me a warm feeling and sense of pride in our network who have risen to the occasion for us.
We have been running regular networking events for HR & business professionals and the feedback we have received makes me thankful that, as a team, we have also been able to pay that forward for other people too.
The number of people who have contributed to our events, giving up their time and expertise to help others has been an absolute joy to witness. Clients have checked on us, wanting to know how we are doing as a business and offering to help, and I feel so thankful for them all.
Even my WhatsApp exercise group has provided motivation and a sense of togetherness, friendships made that will endure, even though we have never met!
We may be zooming rather than meeting but the benefits of good relationships go far beyond the little square I occupy on a screen, beaming out into the real world like a beacon of support and inspiration.
Consideration, authenticity and honesty go a long way.
As a business, we have always responded to applications. We’re a small business that prefers a personal approach, so we don’t always get everything right, but this is something we try very hard to do.
In these uncertain times, we have received so much positive feedback when we acknowledge an application, provide a small amount of constructive feedback, keep people updated or just spend time speaking with someone when they need it. The feedback we’ve received shows how hard it can be to be looking for work right now and taking the time just to respond, even if it’s not the most positive of news, still goes a very long way.
As a business owner, I’ve seen the value in open, honest, regular two-way communication with my team, and I hope they would say the same. We have, and continue to, navigate these uncertain times together, and that only makes us stronger.
Building back better – the world goes on
There was a time when I wondered if we would ever have roles to recruit for again – but guess what, we do. Certainly not as many as before lock-down, but each one feels like a blessing, and oh the joy of calling someone with the right role! This is why we love what we do.
Throughout lock-down, we’ve had time to review how we work as a team and make some changes that will stay with us as we move forward. Always a team that enjoyed meeting people, technology has allowed us to keep this up and highlighted how much time we spend driving from one meeting to another and commuting. That time is now re-purposed, enabling us to speak to more people and be more efficient.
We’ve also used this time to learn new skills, like recording and editing podcasts (even launching our own called ‘It’s a People Thing’), developed new passions for D&I and Wellbeing, and we’re now able to focus on these our networking conversations. And, it’s not just work that has changed. I’m at my desk (well, dining table!) more hours than ever but I still have more time. A life devoid of daily commutes has given me more time to exercise, eat better, enjoy time with my family and realise what is important. Of course, I can’t live life in lock-down forever, but I will retain elements of my lock-down life because I owe it to myself and my family (and to the woodpecker and red squirrel that now visit daily because I’ve been around to fill up the bird feeders!).
Being thankful
If this period of time has taught me anything, it’s to be thankful for what I have and to live in the moment more (something I am terrible at usually).
What am I most thankful for?
- My family, friends, and my team (who feel like family anyway!)
- Living in a beautiful area with space and sky around me
- My house, which has become my sanctuary rather than just where I lay my head
- The financial planning I do when running the business and the great start we had to the year – this has given us the breathing space to look to the medium to long term
- Clients who have given us work and supported us
- Our HR network who have continued to support and engage with us (we’ve really had such great conversations)
- My Pilates instructor for taking our classes online
- Wifi, Netflix & Disney +
- Spotify
- Outlander novels
- Mallow & Marsh raspberry and dark chocolate marshmallows
- Time
- Opportunity
So there we have it, my corona-coaster leanings. I’m now signing off, leaving things in the capable hands of my amazing team. If you need me, I’ll be somewhere up a mountain in Snowdonia!