How are you coping with COVID 19? EastCoast HR Group has approached Business Leaders within our Community to see how they are maintaining a positive focus and explore how they are navigating through this current health crisis and the subsequent changes it will mean for the business landscape and our community.
Follow our Friday Feature – “Local Business Innovation and Leading positively through Crisis”
Kate Langford – Owner Operator Kate Langford Career Consulting Services
Do you have any advice for business owners, managers and or job seekers during these unprecedented times?
- Business owners – Hang on tight and if you have any spare money, now is the time to spend it on advertising as this is when people tend to pull back in this area. There will be a time this turns and you want to be at the forefront of people’s minds when it does!
- Managers – it is all about your staff, ensure you communicate all the time about what is happening to ensure no mental stress begins to happen. Communication is key right now.
- Job Seekers – There is so much to know right now, obviously I can help at www.katelangford.com.au and have a free chat but the basics, you need to get your Resume updated, look outside the box, not just seek and most importantly – stay positive! If you can keep pushing you will succeed when everyone else gives up. Half the economy is not great, the other half is booming. Make sure you pivot to the booming side!
How have you personally or professionally been effected?
- Personally, it is very tough. 3 kids including an 8-week old baby, home 24/7, and running a business (hubby still working 12 hour days). Nothing I can’t handle with a positive mindset! Professionally it was quiet when the shock set in but now people realise more than ever, they need to stand out to get a job, so we are very business and making a difference to people everyday landing jobs.
Has this change in business circumstance inspired any innovations within your business or industry sector?
- Yes, we are ramping up even more to help those affected. I have been doing many free seminars, creating more courses, hiring more staff to help to ensure we can assist everyone.
What do you see as being the biggest challenge we will face as Business Owners / Leaders in integrating back into the “new normal”.
- I think the biggest challenge will be to adapt and pivot to the market and what they want. It is a new normal and going online (we already are/were) is critical to business success. We have also served AUS wide through being online, but I think there is a silver lining to all of this. Mental health awareness is also at an all-time high as people of all walks of life are challenged and need to ensure they look after themselves with self-care. This includes managers becoming MORE “people” managers and remembering they are nothing without their staff. Looking inward as a Business Owner, Manager, Mother, Friend, Sister, Daughter, is important during this time as we pause like we have never done before. We have two ways of looking at it, positive or negative which one do you choose?
