Match Fit?
So here we are, the world seems more open today in Melbourne, the sun is shining too, the kids are in school uniform, and there are queues at the barber… Those of us who could not for so long, are chomping at the bit to get back to work in our businesses, not just on them. My world is tourism. Tourism is about connecting with people, we are ready to get on with it, ready to welcome people, and make their day great! We are ready!
But are we?
Of course, we have done this before, we (my mates in the industry and I) love our businesses, our clients, our business connections and our properties. We have been updating plans, new options, and safe protocols. We might have been slow on a few emails, or even decided to leave some renovations or updates until there is better cash flow, but we are ready! We survived, we made do, we tried to stay focused on the future opportunities, and its the other side isn’t it? We have listened and followed the updates, bought more masks, got vaccinated, and we are excited to get back to it. We are ready! Aren’t we?
Yesterday, I ventured to the city to do a quick reccy in the sun. I had a hat on, cream on my face and arms (red head as I am) But the sun got me on my ankles!!! argh. I know the importance of sunscreen, I have had doctors scrape my face and body to remove cancerous things! I know, I did my preventative measures, but I missed a spot that was so excited to see the sun, i got burnt! I now feel like a novice! — after the damage was done! Hmmm, am I forgetful, lazy or just out of practice? There will be many things we have forgotten we have not done. Simple things like laughing out loud with friends in groups in public places. Simple things like needing to book our favourite restaurant that never took bookings in 2019…
There is something about being #MatchFit — We know how to play the game, (life, work, socialising, sharing etc) We even know most of the rules, and perhaps we know few ways to make the system work for us along side those rules… But is our muscle tone and memory muscle in synch? Have we exercised enough to be fit for the match? This is when mistakes happen! Sure they happen even when we have played every opportunity for those 3 years, became MVP, and won awards. We were flying! Back then.
Our focus is fallible without match fitness.
The same can be said in my industry. How long since we did this? We have not seen and engaged with people we don’t know (clients) for months, we have not had to work with these new time interrupting measures (2 hour sittings, time to check in, time for questions, time to clean more often, time to ensure Covid plans are robust enough for reality — TIME!) We have not practiced enough to be sure the NEW normal is not too new. We can be enthusiastic, we can scenario plan, we are even experts at scenarios… tourism in the end hinges on logistics… But out there — the real world is a bit different.
Being “match fit” is about practice in all scenarios to be ready for the real thing. When we are all just so very keen to be open as soon as possible, (nearly all of us at the same time) it is essential to focus on our physical, mental, and cognitive gaps/fatigue as we head into this restart space. Our customers are not #matchfit either, and are their expectations as before? Or do we have to train them too. Exercising my curiosity will be part of my regime, to double check my readiness.
I am working on making sure that I am focusing not on the tick, but the square of the box that I am ticking. This takes time. By taking just a few more moments before racing into action, to consider not what I have to do but what it actually looks like, feels like, and what quirks need to be stress tested, my customers, my colleagues, and my business will be better for it tomorrow and into the months that follow.
So today — the best thing is we are now on the track! It’s no longer about the race, its about the atmosphere of the whole carnival. Have fun, be safe, check processes with a friend and take time to stretch! It will get you some wins.
How will you get “match fit” as we bounce into playing fields of work and play?
I am off to look at some art, practice chatting to a stranger, being curious in my home town, and to find a new metaphor! :)
Fiona Sweetman.
