SA EVENTS COUNCIL
The start of our recovery By Gill Gibbs, EXSA chairperson and South Africa Events Council board member
Covid-19 is a human crisis that has meant a business unusual mind shift.
M
any businesses and organisations have faced disasters in the past and Covid-19 has certainly brought its fair share across multi-industries, globally. It is in times such as these, that crisis management is everyone’s job. Before we start to build the economy and initiate the recovery plan, we must focus on rebuilding morale and confidence – the very building blocks and foundation for our recovery. And this means focusing on people. This is a call to action for all leaders, whereby all employees, executive management teams and the workforce are looking to for guidance and direction. They need to feel that they can place their trust in the same. Being visible, listening and supportive, empathetic and effective in communication is critical for leaders; instilling calm, control and a pragmatic approach to the tasks and objectives at hand. And in this way, we start the building blocks for a recovery. As we move into Alert Level 1 lockdown
measures, we are heading into this brand new world and with this comes the call for purpose. Here our unique and distinct South African way of mobilising and adapting to all situations will be key to our survival. This, as well as, flexibility and taking an adaptive operational approach. Most significantly, Covid-19 has taught us not to take anything for granted, with a stark reminder of the importance and relevance of human connection. We need to future-proof, initiate solid contingency plans, pivoting and innovating in the interests of preparedness for future potential crises. It is in times of crisis that an effective communications strategy is essential for all businesses and organisations, with a strong internal communications function to provide strength, resilience and longevity. As we start assigning essential tasks to our teams that align with the new challenges and parameters that we all face, we will provide the desired and necessary stability, accountability and responsibility - the essential
attributes that contribute towards meeting objectives and deliverables - that will build the adaptive routine and disciplines for the future. Through this process, the team will have contributed to the end goal of the business or organisation, evoking and igniting the critically needed sense of purpose and driving growth and development in the new world. It is to be a journey of rediscovery, creating value and meaning, in a world where people, businesses and organisations will be required to work together and collaborate and thus, build essential strong foundations for the future.
e: hello@saeventscouncil.org
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
October 2020 Vol 40 No 10 ADVERTISER
PAGE
WEBSITE
AAXO
24
aaxo@aaxo.co.za
www.aaxo.co.za
Event Greening Forum
21
info@eventgreening.co.za
www.eventgreening.co.za
EXSA
28
exsa@exsa.co.za
www.exsa.co.za
MJunxion
2
yolande@mjunxion.co.za
www.mjunxion.co.za
SAACI
29
info@saaci.org
www.saaci.org
SA Events Council
25
hello@saeventscouncil.org
www.saeventscouncil.org
SITE
26
info@sitesouthernafrica.com
www.sitesouthernafrica.com
Sun City
6
scenq@suninternational.com
www.suninternational.com/sun-city/
www.businesseventsafrica.com
Business Events Africa October 2020 29
