I have given several webinars over the past few weeks on leading during a crisis and one of the topics I like to discuss is making a pivot. Once you understand how this pandemic affects your team, your organization, and your industry, you need to chart a new course.
But – and this is really important – you need to stay true to your mission.
If you pivot, you need to stay true to your mission. Click To TweetLet me give you an example.
You’ve probably heard of the company, Life is Good.
It’s a lifestyle brand founded in 1994 and is best known for optimistic T-shirts and hats, many of which feature a smiling stick figure named Jake.
It’s probably not surprising to learn their mission is to “spread the power of optimism.”
I’ve watched them make a pivot during this COVID crisis and you can see it too. On the front page of their website, every T-shirt is related to the global pandemic but in a hopeful, optimistic, and positive approach.
For example, you can get a shirt with golden retrievers on a Zoom call or Sasquatch as the social distance world champion.
They call these shirts, “lighthearted tees for uncertain times,” and they are consistent with their mission to spread the power of optimism even in a global pandemic.
You might be thinking, that’s great Jon but I don’t own an optimistic T-shirt company, how can I make a pivot?
Good question!
I recently had Philip Freeman as a guest on my podcast. He is the founder of Murphy’s Naturals, a company that manufactures natural products for outdoor living – think bug repellent. I wanted to have him on the podcast because of the pivot he made in his business.
And…how it was entirely consistent with his mission statement.
Murphy’s Naturals’ mission is to celebrate nature and inspire good through quality natural products. They believe in “doing others good.”
During this pandemic, Philip quickly realized the world desperately needed hand sanitizer and he had the assets and people who could produce this essential product.
So, he and his company made a pivot and began to manufacture hand sanitizer.
But not just for any customer either. Philip’s company ended up becoming a supplier to the U.S. Navy who desperately needed this essential product.
And true to the company’s mission, Murphy’s Naturals’ hand sanitizer is 99.99% natural.
Inspiring good through quality natural products is not just a mission statement in a dusty binder on a shelf for Murphy’s Naturals, it’s something that is lived every day, even in a global pandemic.
A mission statement is something that is lived every day, even in a global pandemic. Click To TweetSo, what about your organization? What pivot are you considering or have you done already?
More importantly – is it consistent with your mission?
Pivoting in a crisis is important but pivoting with a purpose is absolutely critical to maintaining your company’s authenticity.