At times like this, I believe we all need to do what we can to support each other.
So as we go into another lockdown, here are my four principles for helping you communicate your way through Covid.
We word dabblers like an acronym, it helps to make the messaging memorable, so I've christened them OARS:
1. Own the situation
Yes, I know it's a big heap of dung. I know it's not your fault. I feel for you. I really do.
But the simple fact is that complaining isn't going to help you through.
Instead, own the situation. Devote your precious time and energy to dealing with it, rather than moaning.
With my company, Creative Warehouse, we got together (virtually, of course) to decide what to do about the latest lockdown.
This blog is one small element. But there were others, of which more in a minute.
The point is, the first thing we decided to do was to own the situation, which made us feel better, and also brought us to the A in my OARS...
2. Action
However difficult the times are, there's always something you can do.
Taking action will help your business, and make you feel better as well.
Actions for me and Creative Warehouse include reaching out to all our customers and colleagues to see if we can help them.
We've also decided to offer free consultations to businesses which might be struggling.
Just for an hour, but you'd be amazed what a friendly face, a chat, a few ideas, and a new ally can mean.
3. Realism
You've got to be honest about what you can offer in this new lockdown or you lose credibility, and that's critical.
We might be able to help a restaurant communicate that it's now offering takeaways, but we're also straight that it's never going to replace the original business.
It's just a survival strategy, which is absolutely fine. First get through this, then rebuild.
When I'm asked to teach online, I always say it won't be the same.
I can convey the information, but the real fun, the classroom interactions, the memorable moments, they will all be sadly missing.
At Creative Warehouse, we normally like to do business in person.
That's the only way to properly build strong relationships, one of our principles.
But for now we'll have to make do with Zoom, although we look forward to getting together in person when all this is over.
4. Support
For the last of my OARS, an incredibly important point.
Help each other where you can.
Back in March, I ran a series of free webinars on storytelling, just because I felt we needed a lift at that awful time.
It was never intended as a marketing move, but it did bring in business because people appreciated the values behind the idea.
More importantly, it helped us all through - me very much included - and I made some fine new friends.
For lockdown two, this blog is a start, the Creative Warehouse consultations might also be useful for some, and I'm working on other ideas as well.
Helping others is a win win. It's good for them, it's good for you, and most importantly...
It's the right thing to do, at a time when we need as many of us as possible to be doing the right thing.
By the way, if you're interested in a consultation, please get in touch via the Creative Warehouse website, or you can contact me here through this site.
We'll be happy to do what we can to help.