As lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted and the world is preparing to go back to a state of a new normal, one big question remains that is deeply set in our hearts:
How can we feel safe in the way we lead our lives and do business?
This is no small question. It is a question of global proportions, which we should consider regardless of the current pandemic we find ourselves in. A human being who does not feel safe cannot live up to their potential, because every decision and every action they take is permeated with fear, doubt and self protection.
We don’t spend willingly, we don’t create freely, we don’t interact openly and we don’t act authentically when we don’t feel safe. If we can’t find a healthy level of true safety in our lives, we are about to enter an era of self-protectionism which will dismount our ability to find success and fulfillment and our connections will remain fragile, easily disturbed and short-term.
True safety is a notion many of us have been out of touch with. We have outsourced our safety to government, insurance policies, investments, real estate, bank accounts and jobs. All of which have been challenged by the pandemic. External safety is no safety at all, it is the king of illusions.
As builders of a successful future, we must bring back a culture of true safety. One that builds on confidence and is internalized.
Your clients, partners and employees will be anxious to find their way back to a comforting level of safety. We are all traumatized, but it is the task of forward-thinking entrepreneurs to create a culture of confidence among their people.
There is a lot of confusion about what real safety means. Safety is not just about good health practices. That is an expression of it. Safety is not just about “keeping people safe.” That’s just common sense.
Safety is about being honest. It is about being clear with your intentions and sharing them openly with everyone who’s affected. We may feel lied to by the media and uncertain about the mixed data we get fed. So when someone is honest enough to say “I don’t know,” or if they offer us a life line that feels honest, we open our hearts because we know we are not being lied to. THIS is creating safety. This is the bedrock of our future.
Are you prepared, in your personal and your professional life, to make people feel safe again? How are you going to make everyone confident that you, of all people, are willing and ready to go above and beyond to make them feel safe? How will you communicate and express a new level of honesty in your life and business culture to make your people feel safe?
It is mandatory for you to get clear on this because trust will become the most vetted currency of the new normal, and you should be in good standing.
Below is a simple starting point for evaluation:
Your customer support: Is your phone number buried somewhere on your website? Is it hard to reach you? Are your response times unreasonably long?
Your internal communication: What fears linger among your staff? Are you openly addressing them? Do you have simple panels for discussion and exchange in place? What help can you offer them? This is not always about financial help. Remember, they are human beings, first and foremost.
Look at your social media/online engagement: What are stories of hope and trust you can share authentically? What are some narratives you can come up with that help heal wounded people? Remember, we all deal with human beings.
Update your website: How can you move from “business as usual” to “business for safety?” How do you need to reshape the visitor’s experience, so that it is not product and service first, but safety and trust? Adapt your marketing: In times of uncertainty and low-levels of trust, people need people. Step away from static imagery and product pics. Instead, use faces, people and human situations.
