leading in challenging times -...
TRANSCRIPT
Leading in Challenging Times
90-Day Plan | An Aide-Memoire
April 2020
90-Day Plan | An Aide-MemoireFollowing on from my piece on Resilience and Leadership last week, and subsequent catch-up
calls with clients, I’ve decided to devise a 90-Day Plan Aide-Memoire. I hope that it will assist
you in formulating your thoughts so that you can develop an effective 90-day plan in these
uncertain times. The aide-memoire acts as a simple guide with various topics for you to
consider as you lead your business over the next three months. Looking further down the line
is a good idea too, but for the moment, as business leaders, we need to focus on more
manageable goals . . . and 90 days is a good start.
The aide-memoire is divided across a range of business areas:
You as a Leader: Analysing your goals for the next three months and how you can make a
difference as a leader.
Financials: Reviewing essential aspects like cash flow, creditors, debtors, bank and cash.
Staffing: Considering elements like salaries, potential reductions and any additional
specialised skills needed now.
Clients: Examining existing projects and commitments. Identifying other opportunities for
services that could support clients during this time.
Products & Services: Reviewing your critical offering and likely additional products,
bolt-ons or services your clients could benefit from.
Delivery Channels: Maintaining existing methods of delivery for your clients and
investigating new ones.
Technology: Assessing remote working capabilities and new ways of communicating with
staff and clients (e.g. webinars, Zoom).
Office/Premises: Looking at rent, rates and options to consider with your landlord.
What are your top three goals over the next 90 days?
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
What are your key priorities to make this happen?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
How can you lead differently?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What impact can you make with your team?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What impact can you make with your customers?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What resources can you tap into during this challenging time?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
You as a Leader
Cash Flow: What is you bank account balance likely to be at the end of April, May and June?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Where can you cut costs over the next 30, 60 and 90 days ?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What Government support can you avail of, and what is your contact plan here? ___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
How are you going to manage your debtors/creditors?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What support can you avail of from your bank, and what is your contact plan? ___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What cost efficiencies could be introduced in the short term?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What financial advisers can help you during this challenging time?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What legal & insurance considerations do you need support with?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Financials
STAFFING PLAN Month 1: Salary reductions, reduced hours, staffing cuts1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
STAFFING PLAN Month 2: Retained staff1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
STAFFING PLAN Month 3: Retained staff, additional skills1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
What core skills do you need to retain immediately?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What Staff Communications Plan do you have in place?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What can you do to keep morale reasonably positive?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What Vision/Plan can you share - even in the shorter term - to keep staff engaged?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Staffing
Client Engagement: How are you keeping in contact with key clients? Are you reaching out and offering your support consistently?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Existing Projects: How are you planning on managing these over the next three months? Have you devised a Customer Strategy Plan for each one?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What are the challenges in delivering on these? Which projects need to be paused? ___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What other type of support can you offer your clients now that could really help them in the shorter term?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What products or services need to be dialled up now?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What is your Communication Plan with your key clients? How can you get valuable feedback from them?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
How are you managing their expectations, and how can you ensure you will get paid?___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Clients
What are the key products and services you need to bring forward now to clients? What is critical?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What product extensions could be bolted on? Do you need to source material from overseas, and what impact could that have on delivery?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What will your price points be? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What products or services need to be paused over the next three months, and what’s your plan on communicating this?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Could you ask your clients what additional services they might need from you? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is your Communication Plan with your key clients about these potential additional services?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How are you managing your team in terms of delivery?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What metrics do you need to consider now?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Products & Services
What new delivery channels should you consider over the next three months?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What alternative sources can you explore in terms of market access?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What have you observed from other competitors/firms in other sectors?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
How expensive/cost-efficient could it be if you implemented new routes to market?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What cost efficiencies could be introduced in the short term?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Are there any potential strategic alliances/initial conversations you could consider?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What is your Communication Plan with your key clients about these potential additional
services/alternative delivery channels?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Delivery Channels
What new ‘ways of working’ has this crisis introduced for you and your team in terms of
engaging with clients and communicating with each other?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What CapEx might you need to invest in?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What metrics do you need to consider to ensure your ROI?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
How can this new technology impact your bottom line for the better?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Technology
How can you negotiate your rent position fairly with your landlord?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Are there opportunities to look at reduced space as a result of remote working being
successful?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What Government support might be available to you?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Are there remote working/more flexible working arrangements you can consider after
the three-month period?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
How can you reduce the operating costs of your company over the next three months
and beyond?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Office/Premises
Building on this wealth of knowledge, she works with corporate and SME
clients, helping them to reposition, manage uncertainty and capitalise on
growth opportunities. Valerie has an uncommon ability to influence thinking,
forge strategic alliances and build consensus.
She holds a Masters in Organisational Behaviour from Trinity College Dublin,
Leadership & Coaching Strategies from Harvard University, as well as
qualifications in Corporate Strategy, Strategic Marketing, Business Studies
and Public Relations.
Our team is led by Valerie O’Keeffe.
Valerie is a strategic planning and change
management specialist, with over 20 years’
experience devising and implementing interventions
for clients.
a | 15 Herbert Place, Dublin 2
t | 00 353 1 4433688
m | 00 353 87 2259053
OUR COMMITMENT
We would be happy to have a call with you to help put a
shape on your own 90-day plan.
Please reach out to us if you need our support.
Staying focused now is key.