So, now what?

So, now what? I ask myself every day...

When the pandemic began in March, most of us companies had to throw our plans in the trash and start racking our brains against the clock, thinking about what the best digital strategy would be. But this poses a problem for us: not all positions can be converted to digital... that's why questioning the status quo of our businesses is a priority.

6 months later we continue with daily surprises that keep the uncertainty of the situation alive. We already worked in a V.U.C.A world (Volatility (V), Uncertainty (U), Complexity (C) and Ambiguity (A)), but the term has fallen short; the U for Uncertainty takes center stage.

In case we had any doubt, it's now more than clear that the second wave of coronavirus has come to stay for a good while...

Do you remember the movie "Groundhog Day"? Well, for me it's the one that best represents the feeling I have; trapped in time; the last 6 months have felt more like 6 years to me... but we'd better take it with humor because no matter how angry we get it's not going to change... so it's better to put on a smile like Phil in the movie. :)

The business news makes one's hair stand on end (literally). A few days ago the newspaper Expansión reported in an article that, to date, 21,900 executive positions have already been lost, and unfortunately it seems this will be the tip of the iceberg.

The forecasts are not very encouraging... according to the newspaper Cinco Días , Spanish GDP will fall by 12.8% this year, so let's be like the little ants because we're going to need it.

So then, not feeling fear and discouragement is almost a miracle... negative feelings invade us when we read the economic press or watch the news, but careful: fear paralyzes us; we must find internal formulas that help us concentrate and busy ourselves with solutions. I really like the quote from Dr. Mario Alonso Puig in his book "Reinventarse ": What would you dare to do if you weren't afraid? If you knew you couldn't fail? Think about it.

and the million-dollar question... so, now what?

Well, now we're at "The moment of truth".

The moment when all of us, without exception, must bring out the best in ourselves, even if it costs us our lives, even if we don't really feel it and feel like telling it all to go to h*** every day. But this is the only solution if we want to succeed, or, if you're more of a conformist, to get through this period as best as possible.

It's clear that there will be a natural selection on the professional level. This isn't anything new, Darwin said it long ago...

It is not the strongest species that survives, but the one that best responds to change

C. Darwin

And what if I'm wrong?

My friend Simón Lee, director general of Península and one of the most brilliant business leaders and innovators in this country, says that the most important thing is not to make mistakes, but to learn from the error. In American culture, a good professional is considered to be one who has failed at least once.

The writer Eric Hoffer said "in times of change, those who are open to learning will own the future"

So it's pretty clear: Invest in education.

My 3 training recommendations: company, person and environment.

1. At the business school level, Aula Magna has been born, the first 100% online Business School aimed at boosting the skills of women executives. What's more, I'm the professor of the strategy module, and my motto always applies: "the biggest doesn't win, but the most skillful and fastest does". Here's the link, you're still in time: Aula Magna Business School.
2. My favorite magazine: Harvard Business Review; for €12 a month you have access to the best business articles; company, environment, people, etc. For me it's the magazine with the best content on the market.
3. Motivation sessions, although I believe that, as a professor of mine at ESADE used to say: "you come from home already motivated..." For those who find it harder, I recommend motivational sessions; like Victor Kuppers' "Living with Enthusiasm". You can sign up online and you always come out with a boost of energy; if you're a bit of a blockhead you can repeat. :P

In short, it's clear that companies are key to economic and social recovery. Companies are made up of people; our businesses must make a better society.

I'll leave you with Simon Lee's inspiring podcast: Creative methods companies use to overcome the crisis.

Now it's our turn to prove that we are the best ambassadors of our companies, that we are capable of innovating, of collaborating on cross-functional projects that help our company question its status quo, and of "rethinking" the mission and vision of our organizations. If you want to succeed, demonstrate commitment and rack your brains like there's no tomorrow.

Maria Cudeiro. Woman&business

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