Leading Through Coronavirus Blog 6

Acceptance Leads to Progress

We’re now in the sixth week of the Staffing & Recruiting Leaders Mastermind Group.  There are always new participants who want to experience the group to determine if it would be helpful to them.  This group is designed for people who desire timely and useful information to help them adapt to COVID-19 created challenges.

Most people seem to be in the “acceptance stage” of our new world and are cautiously optimistic about the future recovery phase.  The average emotional state for the group in the past week was a 7.5 on a 10-point scale. Last week it was 6.5.  As people accept undesirable circumstances, they tend to rebound towards their normal emotional state.  Psychological studies have consistently demonstrated this phenomenon.  We ultimately choose our attitude, regardless of the circumstances. 

Though most people are experiencing a reduction in job orders and placements, they still have open specs and many are making new placements.   For most, the placement process is moving slower due to uncertainty about the future and hesitation to hire and onboard people haven’t met face to face. It’s also common for companies to refer to hiring needs as “on-hold” rather than closed which tends to create more optimism.

Many participants wanted to discuss the Payroll Protection Program (PPP).  Some have been approved while most are still awaiting approval.  In general, the smaller lenders have produced better results than the larger ones. It also appears that you can apply through multiple lenders. This may be a wise option if you hit roadblocks with your first lending option. 

Breakout Discussions and takeaways
We separated into small groups of two-three people in video breakout rooms to enable people to discuss their most critical challenges and receive input from others in their groups.  Because people received qualified input from peers who understand the industry, most left with valuable insights that they could apply right away. Below are a few takeaways mentioned by participants:

• Use the downturn as an opportunity to renegotiate with resource providers to lower costs
• Approach other lenders when PPP loans have stalled
• Use this time to work on your business to develop creative marketing strategies
• Offer flat fees in lieu of dropping to a new fee percentage that can become a new normal

I’m honored to facilitate the “Leading Through Coronavirus Virtual Mastermind Group” for a growing community of staffing and recruiting industry leaders.   This group is open to other staffing industry leaders who’d like to both give and receive help.  It occurs every Tuesday from 12-1 pm EDT while we’re dealing with the coronavirus disruption. Just click on https://zoom.us/j/3571033654.  

There’s no invitation or sign-up. Put it on your calendar as a recurring item to hop on and participate.  This is a group of experienced people who have a great deal of collective wisdom and are glad to help each other with relevant advice, recruitment strategy and encouragement. We hope to see you next Tuesday!