“Can I change it? No. So I won’t worry about it!”
That’s what one of my ten year old daughters told me this weekend as she was preparing to go back to school and we were comparing notes about what we each knew about how it would work.
It occurred to me, there are plenty of leaders who could benefit from taking Naomi’s advice!
We are on day 365 of lockdown as you read this publication. March 11 2020, precisely 365 days ago, schools shut down in Los Angeles and this morning one of my ten year old daughters gets to go back to school part time.
Teachers will be teaching remotely into classrooms. Students have selected whether to join remotely or in small cohorts of 7 on campus.
There was a trial run for 90minutes last week. Teachers, administrators, and parents are all doing their best to juggle weighing up the risks and upsides of their choices for teachers, families, and students as the vaccine is rolled out.
Monday morning the four half days start back on campus for one of my ten year old daughters with so many unknowns. So many questions. So many changes. So many routines broken. So many new habits to form. So many unknowns. (...and so many pick ups for the Wrights with three kids in two schools and three schedules to manage!!)
Weekly testing. Daily temperature tests. Can’t hang out with friends outside of your 7 person cohort. Still have to do 50% of learning on line. Everyone is learning new ways to adapt and build resilience.
Ever been back to your favorite restaurant or hotel and your memories shattered by the current disappointing reality? That’s what back to school will be like for many kids. That’s what back to work will be. That’s what we all with experience as we shift from current routines to new routines. —-how we remember it would be our reality for a while.
So what do you do as you lead your company and your team through the next wave of change?
Perhaps listen to Naomi’s advice....
“If you can’t change it...don’t worry about it”
—-which means you DO have to change what you can
CEO of retailer Francesca’s, Andrew Clarke who I have been working with for the last year as they shifted from NASDAQ to private equity ownership, says it well: “control what you can control”
I’d love to hear your favorite soundbites and catchphrases for leading your team through the unknown. - I might even feature you in my upcoming articles—- or even my 3rd book which I will be announcing later this month.
Meanwhile...wishing you all patience, strength, resilience, and energy as you lead through this next layer of what is next.
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/
How To Effectively Improve Results By How You Handle Feedback
“There is no point giving them that feedback. They will never change so I stopped sharing it.”
Sound familiar? How do you even know if as a leader you are getting the right feedback?
Some leaders create a freeze on feedback, often without being aware of it.
Take the Feedback Freeze Assessment to see where you fall. Answer Yes, Sometimes, No to the following statements:
I receive both positive and critical feedback on my ideas.
If someone external was to gather feedback on me, I could predict who would say what.
When I receive feedback, I am curious to learn more and always ask clarifying questions.
I always thank people for giving me feedback, even if I don’t like what I am hearing.
My company encourages feedback and rewards candid feedback.
I frequently request feedback at pivotal moments in projects or initiatives.
When hiring, I question how new employees seek out and respond to candid feedback.
I know when not to ask for feedback.
I correctly evaluate when to ignore, accept or park feedback.
I don’t take feedback personally, but objectively seek to understand and evaluate it.
If you answered yes to eight or more questions, you have a healthy approach to feedback that will prevent you from getting lost in translation and being misunderstood.
If you answered yes to less than five questions, take time to understand what you can do to defrost the areas that are freezing your ability to ask for, accept and apply the lessons that feedback gives you. Learn more in Chapter Three of Rapid Growth, Done Right. —don’t have your copy yet? First 5 to reply “Yes please” I will send you one as a gift from me.
This is one of my favorite topics to discuss with leadership teams. Because it can have really quick results if you address it in the right way.
Want to talk about how your leadership team can create revenue and margin driving results? Let's chat and I’ll share some ideas unique to your own company.
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/
How This Ceo Successfully Launched Three New Initiatives At Record Speed
43 days to launch a new product range. 103 days to launch another. All while tackling the headwinds that every other retailer has faced in the last 12 months AND while successfully securing new private equity ownership.
Want to hear how?
Women’s Wear Daily featured francesca’s CEO Andrew Clarke last week which you can read here:
If you aren’t subscribed, Yahoo covered the news here:
It’s been a pure delight working with Andrew Clarke and the francesca’s team for the last year.
Never before have I seen a company innovate more while going through a financial restructuring.
Yes eComm and direct to consumer channels matters and there is rapid growth there beyond anyone’s wildest dreams that will come, but THIS insight from the WWD interview is also crucial as NASDAQ: FRAN moved into private equity ownership:
“The new owners are committed to stores. We are excited the new ownership supports the future growth of francesca’s as an omnichannel business. Boutiques and stores matter — clearly. Having just brought in a new leader for stores, strategic partnerships and real estate is very much an indication that we see stores being very important as we move forward.”
It is easy to chase NEW. It is easy to be dazzled by the bright shiny object that is the next opportunity.
But while you are doing that, don’t loose focus on your core customer, your key channels, and your critical revenue streams. That is what will distinguish you from everyone else.
When I first started working with Andrew and the executive team I tried a quiet challenge. - Could I only wear francesca’s clothes for work? —because I had a wardrobe full of suits for all of my on stage speaking events which were clearly not required for my virtual events and calls! - so I went shopping and I will soon make it 365 days!
...if you haven’t heard of francesca’s until now, they have the best possible clothes for endless Zoom and Teams meetings as they are forever updating their ranges to meet with the latest fashion trends - the latest Bridgerton Collection and Loungewear included!. - Their new tween brand Franki is also a big hit in our house! (No these aren’t affiliate links- just sharing a recommendation)
Now as for the francesca’s story, that is certainly Rapid Growth Done Right!
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/