What we have learned since the last lockdown?

In these trying times where we spend so much time at home, its often necessary to dig deep and look inside yourself to get the best out of ourselves. At iPPi, we spent the last 8 months talking to business leaders all across the world, taking notes and checking in to see how things are going during the lockdown.

We gathered that there is a general consensus across the board that most people are tackling a lot of problems head-on trying to find solutions.

To give back the knowledge we have picked up, we will be sharing our thoughts and insights, that may help entrepreneurs, business leaders manage and cope with the stresses on this new normal.

We have produced a list of concise ways (including some very simple tips), hoping that you can take one or two pieces of advice. What we ask in return is you sharing this article with someone who you believe could take something out of it. 

Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.

Increase Communication 

People desire transparency and consistent communication. During these times, doing as little as speaking up and helping those around you can really help. Optimize team productivity with these workflow management tools like Slack.

The iPPi team plans dedicated time slots, so everyone knows to be aware and on point. Hold daily calls with each other whether it is over the phone or on your given platform. Block out calls times for calls, making sure they exist in a calendar and not lost in a diary or email thread.

In our experience, it has taught us that the people who respond fast and decisively are usually best placed. Be clear online or on the phone on what you can do and how you can help, keeping lines of communication open. Try and go above and beyond for the team, ensuring frequent communication is short, concise and relevant. This exercise takes 10-15 minutes to complete where we find it extremely important for accountability. 

Questions asked weekly: Review from the previous week:

1. What were your goals for the week?
2. How did you measure up/achieve against those goals last week?
3. What stopped you from achieving what you planned to achieve?
4. What are you proud of what you achieved and why?
5. What are you going to do differently next week or continue to do next week to deliver next week's goals?

Very simple coaching method.

Be open to new ideas & methodologies.

“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size”- Albert Einstein.

Prior to the first lockdown, the iPPi Team asked what practice would you keep from the drastic change in routine? Now, almost a year later, we ask the same thing. What is the one thing you want to take out of this level 5 lockdown and keep for the future?

With the closing of the offices in March 2020, like the rest of the country, the iPPi Team has been working remotely. In doing so, we have realised that the transition has highlighted and shown the importance of a strong operational strategy for our property valuation platform. We have delved internally into the business to formulate what we believe to be a forward-looking strategy to propel our business to its maximum capabilities.

Daily, we implemented and adopted new communication strategies for our multi-national team working across 4 different time zones. In the process, we introduced forward mechanisms to enhance the quality and productivity of the respective teams in technology, sales and marketing.

The crisis is unlocking people’s potential through additional time to ponder. Utilise your free time and equip this knowledge to unlock potential in others. In the iconic words of Apple, let your people “think different”. Encourage technical teams and business teams to collaborate frequently with the intention of enabling a stronger and productive culture within the business. 

Forming New Habits 

We are a fan of simple 10-point plans – not over-complicated, long-form documents in which the main facts get lost. The right actions to take will range from business to business but we have laid out a common guidance to leverage you and the people around you to their maximum potential.

 The 7 Habits of Highly effective people is an annual must-read by Stephen Covey (Linked below)

1. Be proactive
2. Begin with the end in mind 
3. Put first things first 
4. Think 'win win'
5. Seek first to understand then to be understood
6. Synergise
7. Sharpen the saw

Book ref: The 7 Habits of Highly effective people is well worth reading yearly as it contains so much practical advice. 

• Acknowledging small wins goes a long way.
• Winning the daily battles we all go through deserves small victories. 

If you have any questions or I can be of any help to assist you through these tough times drop me an email: Kenneth@iPPi.io

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Also big thanks to Peter Smith for inspiring this article.