This is me, close to death – again. Where the grim reaper is concerned you might say that I have more than my fair share of encounters. Five episodes in the last 5 years that have either pushed me over the edge (or close enough to it as to not make much difference). I should explain that each episode occurred as part of my humdrum life and not participation in extreme sports. On this occasion I am returning to work after a rather significant road traffic accident. As a fully engaged owner/manager, these episodes might have you wonder how a small business it to respond? Even though it is well-established business (20 years) –this sort of thing impacts on your bottom line.
Each of the five "sorry" episodes was different, and they all led to me taking time away from the business and trying new ways to fill the leadership gap. Some of my answers to these tasks were hastily thought out (and maybe not very good), but I've now had several chances to improve how I do things. You might be able to use some of the things I learned even if you are not in immediate danger of dying. You decide.
Here are my top five thoughts:
- Your management team are ready to take on your vision – letting them do so will give them an opportunity to grow – and from there they will use what they have learned to further grow the company. Have faith. As you recover your faculties you won’t be able to resist reading emails and visiting the office – remember, don't interfere. Do so and you risk undoing all the self-belief your team have built in the last few days/weeks/months.
- You can develop disaster strategies and operating procedures but don’t waste too much time trying to predict every eventuality – when disaster strikes it is unlikely to match what you have planned for. You are better trying to build initiative, flexibility and resilience into your team.
- Where there is life there is a way back from the brink – celebrate the life that remains (in you and/or your business) and don’t focus on what might be lost during any period of disturbance. If, like me, you have spent the last 15–20 years building your business it is fair to assume that, irrespective of the consequences, you will be able to do it again. I always find inspiration in the line from Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If’: “Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools”.
- Talk with your team. Your condition is scarier for them (and family and friends) than it is for the dying. Believe it or not, I was never afraid, I found solace and peace in surrendering my fate to the healthcare professionals. In a small company at least, your team faces a period of uncertainty – they need to be aware of how it may affect their lives. Keep them updated on what is happening or risk demoralising them (or worse losing them).
- Life goes on. People have lives to live, bills to pay – even your best friend may not miss you (for no more than few days you would hope). Ultimately, the big picture just keeps unfolding irrespective, so don’t expect anyone to show your business any special consideration just because the boss (almost) died. Where you can, make every effort to build a war chest in the good times, it will help the company address such eventualities. However, don’t be disenchanted, I found that more people cared than I would have guessed. I was truly humbled by the number of best wishes, flowers, calls of sympathy to my wife and offers of aid.
One last thing: many people have told me they can't decide if I am the luckiest or unluckiest man living – that glass half full or empty thing. From what I know, none of us can take credit for the good things that happen to us in life. It's hard to believe that everything is a game of chance when you think about how unlikely things were that led to Earth's creation, the first spark of life, and evolution as a whole. As far as I know, there are no real business geniuses or entrepreneurial masterminds who know the key to life.
In the words of President Barack Obama just before the 2012 election: “If you are successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life... Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business — you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen.”
You are lucky – own it, live it, love it.
