Sun is shining and Birmingham is getting its swagger back...
THE last few weeks have felt, dare I say it, pretty good.
The economy is starting to reopen, Goldman Sachs announced plans for a new Birmingham office following hot on the heels of investment announcements from the BBC and department for transport)... and the sun is shining.
The city is looking glorious, from the recently completed stately Chamberlain Square to the alreadyiconic Foka Wolf Pat Butcher mural in Digbeth.
It feels like Birmingham is – cautiously – starting to get its swagger back.
We know there's a whole lot further to go of course.
Just last week the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce released a new report on the key interventions the businesses that are still seriously impacted by Covid-19 need to see.
But there is a growing sense of optimism and positivity.
In and amongst all of this, many businesses I speak to are thinking about their own plans, preparing to take back control of their destinies after months of having it wrestled away by a pandemic.
At heart, businesses are people. We know that the past 12 months have been incredibly challenging for many individuals.
As we as business leaders start feeling hopeful about this next phase we must also remember that there may be those in our teams whose resilience reserves are running pretty low.
Getting the pace right, taking time
to listen and engage while continuing to think Covid-19 safety first will be more important than ever. To me, it's a marathon, not a sprint.
A couple of weeks ago I chaired a roundtable for Chamber Patrons on sharing how they are approaching staff mental health, wellbeing and engagement during this time. It was brilliant, because it was just so practical.
A number of those taking part had broad strategies afoot covering researching employee perspectives, provision of Employee Assistance Programmes and mental health and wellbeing awareness training for managers.
Many are looking to keep blended working practices (where practical), providing greater flexibility and remote working than ever before.
Some of the bits that stuck with me are the small but impactful interventions.
For instance, the companies producing light-hearted video walkthroughs of the office, helping make it familiar for those who may not have been on site for over a year or never set foot there at all.
Then there was the company returning staff from furlough that now needs individuals to be on the premises to do their role.
They're starting gently – not telling folks to come straight in for a full shift but inviting them in for a socially distanced coffee with their manager first, helping them get comfortable in the environment after so long away.
Another was creating a “headspace garden”, a space put aside and designed to give a place for privacy for anyone who needs to step away during the working day.
Depending on the size and nature of the company everyone will be doing something a bit different.
But as we all go through this same, strange journey at the same time, I am looking forward to continuing to help businesses come together through the Chamber and share their experiences, perspectives and ideas – while learning a thing or two myself.