MEASURE BY MEASURE
This post is a very different musing on the news agenda. The Last thing anyone needs at the moment is another perspective or opinion. Instead, it’s a collection of this and that, hopefully, so we can glimpse views together and not just dissect the picture on the wall. It’s certainly not a how-to-do-it nor does it have a beginning, middle or end. These are different times so inevitably there are different points of view. Perhaps it would be best to teach ourselves ignorance, to look sideways, stand still and listen. Rushed judgements are seldom counter-intuitive, yet it’s the hidden trends which shape behaviour when everyone is trapped in the noise.
1: I’m choosing my influencers and news sources with some advisment. Perspectives are important. World Service may come back into its own! We need positive views alongside the bad news.
2: Ration social media. It’s a continual cycle of projection, crack pot theories and negative clickbait, with some excellent sources alongside if you can find them. Rory Sutherland, the brilliant mind and analyst said:
“If we’d had constant 24-hour, rolling-news during the war, like we do now, we’d have surrendered in 1940”
3: Often the London media hub and bubble is not representative of the country and has a narrow field of vision. Let’s look further…
4: Hard to say I know, when so much uncertainty surrounds us, but we mustn’t borrow worry. Worry is catching too.
5: Every word counts. Communication must be thoughtful, considered, empathetic. End of.
It’s a time to reflect and plan what’s post the crisis with good and sound ideas and consideration. Leadership especially will be under a spotlight with a necessary people first action. We have already seen some terrible examples of PR backlash and some brilliant and active leadership. Rishi Sunak is a prime example and has demonstrated poise, tone and delivery. If I was a betting man, I would put my last £20 on him in the top seat one day.
A lack of balance and perspective in leadership comms is a fatal combination if ever there was one. In a crisis, we can’t gamble off-tilt chasing losses and anticipated losses into the bargain. It is hard enough to deal, to cope, with a severe challenge when it is occurring, let alone when we start imagining the worst case, the biggest downside. Therein, breakdown lies.
Instead, if it’s possible to take time to reflect and prepare better things may come. Clearly, there will be a financial shock to many, but there are widely spaced realities too. Mostly perhaps we should all stand still and firm a while and focus on what matters.
Keep safe out there and please do not borrow worry