Understand the Season
One of the questions you may have asked or have been asked in times of crisis, change or when things go wrong is “What do I do now?”
It is a question that is very important to everyone in crisis. It could mean different things to different people but one thing that it suggests is that the individual might have been doing something, but that has been affected by the change and the person would like to know what can be done and very importantly ‘now’, which specifies time. In other words, “What should I be doing now or at this time of crisis?”
Life, as you may have discovered is full of different seasons and they are all bringing change that affects us. In the UK, the weather changes that accompany the seasons affects everyone, and those have lived in the environment long enough have figured out the answer to the question which is often expressed in four simple words – “dress for the weather.”
This simply means that you should be prepared to change when the weather changes. You cannot change the season; you have to change. If you refuse to change, the consequence could be fatal. The season dictates; the people follow.
Crisis is a season; just like winter or summer, a good understanding of the season can help you in the pursuit of what to do so that you can appropriately “dress for the weather” and avoid any unpleasant experience.
You can be relevant if you understand the season and know what to do or what to avoid doing. It is the season that determines what you do. Many are frustrated because they are doing many things at the wrong time. Unfortunately, some of these things could be right and have produced great results sometime in the past; yes, but that is a different season, it may not work in the new season. They have failed to recognise that the season has changed.
What should I be doing at this time? That is the question you need to ask, and a genuine answer can lead to relevance in times of change. Are you able to answer the question in any crisis?
You might have observed that during this current pandemic that has affected everyone around the world in one way or other; some have implemented changes that have made them relevant. The crisis has affected what they usually do, but they decided to “dress for the weather” and change to do what they can do that is relevant in the current situation.
I read of an airline pilot that took on a temporary role as a delivery driver while all the planes have been grounded due to the flight restrictions because of the virus. It is a season; he cannot fly but he can do something else to be relevant to those that need him.
There was another business owner that runs a hairdressing Salon, as she could not attend to her customers in the Salon because of the lockdown, she decided to provide online consultations and launched an online platform for her products, which she shipped to the customer’s address upon purchase. She did what was possible in the season.
Many other businesses that closed down their stores have diverted all available resources to online platforms ensuring goods and services relevant to the season are available to their customers.
Training and education providers have taken advantage of technology to ensure continuity of the service provided to their customers while they could not physically attend any classroom session.
Things have changed, the season has changed, you may need to change something to be relevant.
You may need to change your strategy, improve your products, take on a temporary role, learn a new skill, merge with another organisation, downgrade for a while, start something new, reprioritise, rebrand, repurpose your assets or resources, ‘get your hands dirty’ for a while, work for others, reduce your expenses, and or any other changes that may relate to you or what you do, so that you can be relevant to the season.
Seasons take away jobs; seasons also create new jobs. Seasons bring in new opportunities for those who can recognise that a change has happened and that they need to change to embrace the season.
Seasons are not permanent, this pandemic will soon come to an end, but like any crisis knowing what to do at the right time is very crucial to keep you going at every phase or season of life.
Some businesses will not be able to operate as they used to anymore, the demand for some products will fall drastically, some customers will have found improved and better services that closely meets their needs which means their loyalty will shift, many tools previously used will no longer be as effective, the strategies that once worked may no longer work like before, interests and priorities have changed, available and dispensable cash to many people have changed, and many other things that have changed because of the season will affect many around the world; except there is a corresponding change, many people, communities, industries, or nations could be struggling for relevance.
You may be struggling or frustrated in a particular season and seeking answers. It is possible that you are doing something that has worked well and brought great results sometime in the past and you are wondering why it is no longer bringing in the same level of result or success. It may not be the people that changed, it may not be the principle either, it might just be that the season has changed.
It may be necessary to stop and understand the season you are currently in, and how you can change to make the most of the season. People need you but you can only become relevant to them when what you are doing is right and relevant to the challenges of the season.
To be continued next week, don’t miss it.
Please feel free to share this post if you found it useful, and remember to get in touch as I would appreciate your comments and would like to hear from you.
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Related posts on Relevance
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 1
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 2
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 3
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 4
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 5
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis –Part 6
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 7
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 9
- Finding Relevance in the midst of Crisis -Part 10
Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better!
Reading this post reminds me of my good old room
mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this
article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!