No one needs reminding of the realities and risks during a downturn. However, we do need reminding that there are always bright spots, where organisations are defying trends and the state of the market.
It’s the reverse of what happens in the good times, when progressive leaders are watching for developments that signal turbulence ahead. They are trying to combat complacency with evidence of the need for urgency.
In tough times, leaders are trying to combat negative thinking and loss of confidence, by noticing where there are real examples of good news and success elsewhere.
For example, the first half of 2020 saw global crashes in both vehicle sales and oil prices, along with shutdowns by car manufacturers due to the pandemic. Still, Tesla just posted its fourth consecutive quarterly profit and became the world’s largest car maker by market value.
Such a grand scale of success is not the reality today for most organisations and might seem unrelated to you. However, there will be examples of extraordinary performance by firms, industry bodies, and government entities that do resonate with your organisation and sector.
It’s not naive to be noticing those organisations that are bucking recessionary trends and getting results when it seems there are none to be had.
At a minimum, their achievements could offer fresh insights and provoke new thinking for you and your organisation.
I’d love to hear if you have compelling examples of organisations succeeding against the odds at the moment. You can email those to me anytime!
My sense is that we easily forget that in downturns, we need to watch for signs of positive developments. They give hope and remind people that the goal is not just to survive, but to thrive.