LO U I S E B R O O K E S M I T H O B E
O Opinion
Supporting at a time of change Many of us are sometimes asked to support or mentor someone. It could be a student deciding on a particular direction or sector to follow, or a graduate hoping to land their first real job. Sometimes the request comes from your peers and the relationship can be slightly different, namely one of support at a time of change. That’s when you need to be a critical friend rather than a teacher. The most surprising requests come from those people who you have secretly admired over the years and have looked up to. The role then is different again and can be one of advocacy or dooropening. To utterly desecrate Shakespeare, “Some are born struggling with change, some learn how to cope with change, and others make the most of change when it hits them”. Whatever the stage of the journey or the personality of the person who values your support or advice, it’s lovely to be asked, and not a little humbling, especially now. Because it is blindingly obvious what a challenging time the tail end of 2020 has become, and also how varied we are in dealing with change and uncertainty. Some embrace it and maximise new opportunities. Not being a Whitehall spin doctor, I’m not sure of the best phrase to epitomise the direct opposite of burying bad news on a day of celebration, but ‘innovating at a time of adversity’ is as good as any. However, many are teetering on the edge of
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depression and to be a steady shoulder for them to lean on is more important than ever. Gone is the much-valued crutch of furlough, and although the chancellor’s job support initiatives have been picked up by some, many planning consultancies and local authority planning departments simply can’t make it work and have reluctantly waved goodbye to long-standing colleagues. All those long hours and sense of loyalty blown to the wind. So what comes next? Early retirement if the savings pot allows it? A change in direction if there is the energy and ‘can-do’ approach to life? Self-employment is always a popular card to play in times of recession and indeed it can be a brilliant direction to follow if you have some skills, motivation and a lucky disposition. And it does come
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“MAKING AND USING CONNECTIONS POSITIVELY IS CRITICAL” down to luck, whether it’s recognising a lucky break when you find it or having the ability to make your own luck and hugging it securely, Covid-19 guidelines aside. The ability to make the most of things reflects, I believe, an inherent sense of not letting an opportunity pass you by. It means being in ‘work mode’ 24/7, spotting the new idea, picking up on headlines and new initiatives as soon as they hit the streets. Making and using connections positively is critical, not in an exploitative way, and primarily believing that you are the right person for the job at hand.
That doesn’t mean you have to bullshit your way through; most people get tired of waffle and tedious sound bites. But it does need an anticipation of what people need and a belief that you, or your cohort, can deliver it. I speak from experience, having established a consultancy nearly 30 years ago at the end of a previous recession. The context has certainly changed and instead of relying on word of mouth, and a little publicity in regional press, today’s digital wizardry is powerful, and the clever use of social media can speed things up considerably. But any new enterprise, or would-be entrepreneur, still needs the same motivation and positive attitude as they always have. And those who succeed in a post-Covid era need will also have some humility, give back when possible and support others who choose a different path. Everyone has something to share, some way of supporting others and some form of encouragement for colleagues who are not coping as well as it might appear.
Dr Louise Brooke-Smith is a development and strategic planning consultant and a built environment non-executive director I L L U S T R AT I O N | Z A R A P I C K E N
14/10/2020 13:13
