The Taurus team and I have developed an intricate crisis comms methodology based on The TaurusBullseye© to navigate your brand, team and customers specifically through this period. The offering is based on our insights and years of TaurusReact experience.
Call us to find out how we can help you or click below
We’ve reached a ‘new normal’ as we adapt almost by the hour to changing and challenging circumstances.
That is, the Taurus ‘no bull’ approach, which for 25 years has underwritten the way we’ve supported, protected and built client brands.
Now, in these unprecedented times, the ‘no-bull’ mantra, has even stronger meaning as Sharon and theTaurus team is committed 100 per cent, to provide support in meeting head-on these difficult challenges – both on a personal level and in our jobs.
At Taurus, we recognise and understand the feelings of anxiety, distress and concern many people and businesses may be experiencing in relation to COVID-19. We should try to remember that medical, scientific and public health experts around the world are working to the best of their ability to contain the virus, treat those affected and develop a vaccine as quickly as possible. At the same time, Governments are responding with stimulus packages to help alleviate the financial strain on people.
On a business level, it is important we don’t fear change. Change helps us become smarter. With many of the 1,000 clients we’ve helped over the years. We are used to providing a helping hand in moments of change and transition, that need to be undertaken.
Now, in these difficult times, we are here to help you in a wide variety of ways. Whether it’s just as a sounding board or to navigate your family and your brand through these next six months.
While we have provided PR and Marketing for a specific outcome e.g. attracting new customers or re-establishing your brand, our expertise doesn’t stop there. Our business strategy employs our TaurusBullseye™ Methodology, along with our experienced Issues Management and Crisis Management offerings, which are in high demand. We are able to provide you with the appropriate tools to respond to emerging trends or changes in this ‘new normal’.
It is always wise to keep an open mind on what else you could be doing.
The worst thing we can do in situations like this is to look back after we have beaten COVID-19 and in hindsight, say “We should have done this.”
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Time of social and economic hardship is the ultimate stress-test of whether the relationship between companies and customers is robust enough to endure long term or so fragile that unexpected challenges can completely disrupt and derail the business.
Optimising customer experience and effectively managing connection is crucial in the current climate, as the impression businesses make now when clients are vulnerable, will strongly influence future, post-pandemic public opinion.
While the COVID-19 crisis and nationwide lockdown have threatened the everyday sense of security Australians are accustomed to, businesses can restore some stability and comfort to their customer and client base through dependable, responsive service and organic communication.
Take your customer on the journey. As we start to navigate the road out of COVID-19, businesses must anticipate transformed customer needs and prepare for remnant uncertainty after the crisis has passed. Consumer spending trends have shifted and will remain changed after the global lockdowns are over, with more reserved and cautious behaviours expected. Many individuals have been cut off from steady income sources as a result of this pandemic, and countless households and businesses have been made aware of their own financial frailty.
It’s understandable customers and businesses alike may continue to be conservative in future spending practices, in order to replenish savings and bolster the bottom line. Brands can address this by communicating how their business is adding value to customers and clarifying what place their services and products have in supporting clients and consumers post-pandemic.
Connect more meaningfully than ever by conveying empathy, effort and exploration through remote customer service. Communicating with emotional intelligence, care and honesty build trust.
Reaching out to customers to thank them for sticking with the business, and to ask for feedback and insights, is an extra step that brands can take to help their clients feel valued. Utilise technology like CRM to create VIP lists of your most valuable and loyal customers, and then reach out to let them know how much they are appreciated.
Employees at the forefront of customer experience services can have invaluable information and advice on improving customer service and relations. They are a resource that shouldn’t be overlooked when reimagining how to pivot operations to support the situation now and in the future.
Whether you’re a B2B or a B2C company, strong and consistent branding is an essential component of confidence and continuity amid times of change. An effective communication strategy empowers and establishes your business as adaptable, resilient and committed to supporting customers in a meaningful and relevant way. Doubling engagement is pivotal in strengthening connection, with both your clients and employees alike.
Customer care will be higher in quality and more productive if your employees are feeling recognised, supported and appreciated. Additionally, maintaining professionalism and high standards of conduct and presentation throughout your company can also help with internal motivation and retaining a sense of stability.
Customers encounter businesses across multiple channels and touchpoints from physical face to face, remote via phone or mail and digital including online and social media. Up until now, many organisations prioritised digital for efficiency. The irony is that now COVID-19 has forced the global adoption of digital tools and remote working environments, it’s no longer good enough to just make those experiences efficient.
People are craving connection and organisations must enhance their human side in the virtual world. Consider how you can embed and amplify human interaction across virtual channels. Be honest with your customers about what’s changed, nurture shared connection and surprise them with unexpected generosity.
Turn shared pain into shared gain. Going through hard times together provides the opportunity for businesses to deepen their relationship with customers and industry. The proactive and innovative measures companies take to support clients now will only fortify connections in the long term. They may even pave the way for how brands and customers will work together in the future.
COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on customers and companies, changing the way we interact, connect and collaborate. As we look to building the new normal, we know that companies and consumers can adapt in a positive way to change and work together to create a bright and prosperous future.
It’s time to reinvent, rebuild and recover. If you’re planning to reach the other side, we’d be delighted to help review your marketing and business strategy using our integrated TaurusBullseye Methodology! Ask us about our Bullseye strategy and crisis communications offerings at info@taurusmarketing.com.au
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
It goes without saying, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy on business. As we adapt and change to fit into the new workplace environment, we have received a wealth of information and recommendations. Businesses are being encouraged now more than ever to maintain their productivity.
So, what will life look like back at the office?
What we have learned these last few months is that the source of nurturing our workplace starts with mental health and the individuals that comprise a business. We have a duty of care to one another to help minimise those psychological effects that may be present in a total online environment. The new normal we now experience, has pushed teams to be more mindful, connected and empathetic with one another, ultimately creating a healthier and happier workspace as more and more people are looking for flexible working arrangements.
Mental health research provides clear evidence on how to effectively keep your head above water when working from home but it doesn’t yet tell us how to manage flexible working arrangements. Although we’ve all heard it all before, routines, good eating, boundaries, breaks and exercise continue to be the most effective and important methods of nurturing and maintaining positive mental health while working through pandemic lockdowns.
So, what are the key things we really need to adopt when we go back to the office? Here are our four tips on how to manage life back at the office.
Managing working from home while your team are in the office may take some getting used to so keep the communication open. There may be initial connectivity adjustments so prepare for an initial teething period so you reduce how tricky it is to navigate. Maintain transparency and call it how it is, while everyone settles in.
For some, there will be that break away from home schooling to be back at the office, others will be dreading the commute and bustle of office life – all of which will take some adjusting. Manage expectation and go easy as you find your feet again.
Whether you’re back in the office or still working from home, structuring your day is a good start to maintaining a positive outlook on your work performance. By having structure, you can plan, focus and create an ideal schedule to help your day flow.
If we’ve learnt anything from working from home, it’s that you’re not in this alone. Seeking support from friends, family, colleagues, mentors or loved ones is a healthy way to create a safe environment not only for yourself but others as well. Most importantly, if problems, issues or feelings persist, be open to seeking professional help and finding more ways to prioritise your work-related mental health.
As we work together to create safe workspaces to nurture mental health, we also work together to create an emotionally intelligent workforce.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
Settling for the status quo is not a part of my plan. The world is full of builders, stabilisers and destroyers. I once was told there are the builders who tend to create, stabilisers who keep things going and then there are destroyers, a necessary evil. The ones who break things down, reinvent and restart the cycle. I have had to be all three of these in my career. And I love it.
I’m a single parent with three children who depend on me. I also have clients who depend on me to give them advice, and I have staff who depend on me to pay them, so they in turn can support their families and pay their mortgages. And that is a great privilege. But it comes with pressure to succeed.
That pressure to get it right, is why I created the Taurus Bullseye™, an approach to defining business goals and then setting out to turn them into reality. With all my years of experience and accumulated knowledge, I wanted to create a simple yet sophisticated methodology that underpins my approach to business and offers a template to my clients and my team.
The Bullseye talks about hitting the centre of the dartboard or as we describe it, the centre of a target you’re aiming for. We start with Business objectives, sending out a questionnaire to new clients asking them first and foremost, what is their ideal scene. Then we move on to marketing and comms and peel back the layers that we need to know, creating clarity and a roadmap to make those goals happen. We then turn that into 90-day plans with a clear direction and quantified outcomes to success.
Success looks different for everyone.
If you take a quick scroll through the Taurus website, you will see an impressive client list with eminent names such as Commonwealth Bank, Dicker Data, Blackmores, Invocare, QBE, MLC and a host of other instantly recognisable brands and companies. We work with start-up entrepreneurs through to ASX-listed multi-nationals, but I measure our success by repeat clients.
Some of our clients have been with us for more than 15 years and some have started companies, become successful, sold and started again. There’s one business that is now on its fifth company with us. But the link between success and our clients is the methodology, looking for what it is you want to achieve and then setting it in stone and working towards it.
I get no greater satisfaction than meeting with our clients after a year and popping the cork on a bottle of champagne to celebrate what magnificent work we have all done. That is an amazing feeling and why I continue to focus strongly on the key objectives – the Bullseye.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
With the #newnormal, comes new responsibilities. As business owners and brands paddle their way around the COVID-19 global pandemic, it comes with a series of aged old worries, amplified – from customer retention to employee wellbeing and overhead costs. However, amongst all these business issues it is important to not lose sight of what counts in the long run – maintaining your customer base.
Media consumption has done a 180 on us overnight. COVID-19 has seen an increase in online and broadcast consumption. While in isolation and staying home, TV and social media are the go-to platforms for daily (or even hourly) news updates.
Your social media strategy is more important now than ever. Here are a few tips on keeping momentum and maintaining your brand presence on social media in a COVID-19 era:
Now is not the time to ramp up good old fashion sales tactics, but to lend a helping hand. What services can you offer to help your customers?
Yes, it is important to push your brand’s product and services, so you stay relevant (and in business!), but understand that everyone out there is looking at cost savings, so what business value are you giving your customers?
In short: Be present, be genuine, provide value and message how you can help.
Consistently create an emotional connection with your customers by inviting them to anticipate what you have in store. Encourage interaction with consumers through productive and fun activities, e.g. Instagram Lives featuring expert Q&As, online DIY and skills classes or behind the scenes footage of what is happening in your business currently.
What are you doing as a business to #pivot so that your customers can gain some inspiration and follow you through this crisis?
Once you have used social media to leverage your brand, look at your numbers. Which posts are faring well? Do your customers enjoy short videos detailing insights into how your business is adapting? What is the number of clicks on your pinned posts?
Asking these questions frequently will aid your business in turning the tides quicker.
However, none of this will matter if it is not done in an efficient and quick manner, which brings us to the next point – proactivity.
Businesses who do not respond to the crisis in time risk falling behind and losing themselves in the clutter and the chatter. Consumers have increasingly become time-poor and seek comfort, connectivity and reassurance. A simple note of thanks, an update on delivery wait times, a feel-good quote or a smart tip can go a long way in securing your customer base long after this crisis has ended.
Confirm your social media team has been educated on what type of stance your business is taking, what results you are looking to gain from your social media presence and how to monitor and respond to changes. Set clear guidelines on what type of messaging you want to broadcast to your audience.
Customers value thoughtful posts and consistency. Create brand awareness by asking yourself how you will add value to your social media page. Remember, consistency builds trust.
TaurusSocial© is an innovative service offered by Taurus, advising you on every aspect of your social media presence, what you should be doing, what works and what to steer clear of in these unprecedented times. Read more about TaurusSocial© here.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
As parts of Australia gradually come out of lockdown, there are mixed feelings on the positive changes that took place during the pandemic, and an emphasis by employers to help teams identify ways to cope as we emerge from this period of social isolation.
Discussions around mental health have dominated during the pandemic surrounding working from home (WFH) and the strict quarantine environments. This (in some cases) almost two-year period of isolation has given individuals the opportunity to self-reflect and learn more about their mental and physical wellbeing and what is important.
So, how do we maintain these positive changes when we return to so called ‘normal’ life?
The reality is that that everyone is re-adjusting returning to normal life at their own pace. For many this may take some time and that’s okay. For others, it already seems like the lockdown was a distant memory.
The anticipation of coming out of lockdown may cause anxiety for some, whether it’s the commute, going back to the office or just socially interacting with people more regularly for the first time in a while. Individuals have been affected by lockdown in different ways so it’s only natural that some people may be hesitant about transitioning back to the new ‘normal’.
Here are four steps you can take to ensure healthy mental health practices are maintained in your personal and professional life as we emerge from lockdown:
Lockdown provided individuals with a different use of their time. With little or no commuting, limited social plans and reduced movement, individuals were forced to self regulate work and leisure and take a pause and reflect.
Many people have used the time in lockdown to focus on their mental health through acts of self-care and spirituality, some even saying they found valuable time to examine routines, relationships and their purpose in order to reconnect with themselves.
Such valuable self-care or spirituality is something we could bring with us into the hustle of day-to-day life.
By managing time and expectations, individuals can develop positive mental wellbeing routines that suit the fast-paced environment we are all used to.
Take everything step by step. This gives you space to focus on what you can control and allows you to ease back to a new routine at your own pace. This may be saying no to plans with friends or talking to your boss about a continued work from home attendance.
It is important to pause and self-reflect on how you are getting on as time progresses.
Returning to the office or enjoying social activities can be draining in the initial stages of coming out of lockdown. However, don’t feel discouraged by this as experts say, this is completely normal. Our bodies are accustomed to staying at home with limited movement around the house. Your full energy will be back before you know it, with time, routine and patience.
It is recommended you give yourself time to rejuvenate. After almost two years of no international travel and limited time to go on a break, maybe it is time to take some annual leave and go on holidays to relax, revive and reset.
Finally, make sure you are still prioritising time for self-care, the typical advice to exercise, get enough sleep, eat healthily and taking time for yourself is essential for yourself and those around you.
As this is an uncertain time for many, these anxieties are not just at an individual level. By having conversations with those around us, we can all play a part in supporting one another during this transformational time and in shaping a more positive and mindful environment for everyone.
For more advice on how to prioritise your mental health in trying times, Taurus client, Dr Frank Chow of 2OP Health at: www.2ophealth.com.au is offering great advice and individual and workplace consultations. Dr Frank Chow is a psychiatrist and the director of 2OP Health. He is a specialist in organisational and occupational psychiatric service, specialising in work related mental health care. With years of experience, Dr Frank Chow is passionate about advocating early intervention, education and rehabilitation for all individuals so that they can get back on track with improved clarity, motivation and fulfilment at work.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
24/7 – it is all about COVID.
And it’s not just inside our homes that Covid speak feels overwhelming.
A trip to the local café for a takeaway provides a widescreen TV with the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian being interviewed and providing another update on COVID transmissions and vaccinations.
We are being encouraged not to look at case numbers but to focus on vaccination.
With Covid cases edging over 1,000 a day, the Premier is working towards getting us out of this. The 5kms rule has seriously impacted my freedom.
The comms approach however is to be applauded. She uses every means at her disposal to let the people of New South Wales know what is happening each day.
I am wishing the day comes soon when, like Singapore, authorities no longer need to report daily transmission and vaccination numbers and we can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Back home, families say “You don’t watch scary movies anymore. You just watch the news.”
The tone of the comment touches on another point. There is another reality emerging which isn’t so widely canvassed by those in power and that is the independent views of young adults living under the one roof, as I do, and who have conflicting views about getting the jab. This is even though Gladys, her Health Minister, Brad Hazzard and our NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, aren’t mixing their words:
“Vaccination rates continued to be the most important number in terms of the easing of restrictions.”
The reality is we are living in 2021 and these young adults spend so much of their time reading articles that don’t necessarily align with the thinking of our powerbrokers and question whether the jab is for them. Some of these principles of taking a stand based on their own research might well be challenged if vaccination passports are being rolled out.
Where does individual rights and choice stand?
My own office building has dictated, only those who are double vaccinated will be allowed back to work.
I worry for my children, they have no choice. As travel, a sporting game (either as a participant or a spectator) depends on showing a two jab COVID vaccination card. In the Uk, the public are fighting this as we speak on the basis of how it will be policed.
Time will tell on this front for NSW and Australia.
Regardless of which camp you sit in or your beliefs, we all need to protect our mental health and those around us.
Exercise is helping so many people stay sane during this lockdown. The amount of exercise and how strenuous it is obviously depends on our health and age. I was taken back to read a dog walker announce he was fined $500 by police for not wearing a face mask because his exercise didn’t look “strenuous enough.” I walk fast with my dog each morning.
It’s a shame to have to live in fear.
Now with so many people walking (at whatever speed) police have confirmed this falls under the heading of exercise. As to the Balmain dog walker, police said there was more to the story.
While I try to stay in the best space regarding my mental health and that of my team, we are constantly helping each other with tips and advice. We even did a stretch this am as we did our morning team meeting.
To help us all during these difficult times, here are some tips:
And perhaps as we started, it’s best to limit the news items you watch each day.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
Just like you, we are experiencing unprecedented circumstances during the Coronavirus pandemic. Australia is at war
With empty supermarket shelves, confronting media stories AND working from home in new situations – stress is at the forefront.
Our, your team and families mental health is paramount. With social isolation and changed living circumstances coming into play, here are 10 tips to make life easier:
1. Reach out to resources to help your mental health. (Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Headspace)
2. Over communicate with everyone in your world.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Get enough mental and physical rest.
5. Be prepared for constant change.
6. Plan your meals for the day.
7. Keep in contact with those who provide you with light and peace.
8. Less running around to meetings means you will be sitting more so pro-actively plan exercise.
9. Set new protocols for working remotely with all in your world.
10. Encourage a laugh to keep mood light.
Sharon and the Taurus team sends you wishes of support and self care at this time.
Time of social and economic hardship is the ultimate stress-test of whether the relationship between companies and customers is robust enough to endure long term or so fragile that unexpected challenges can completely disrupt and derail the business.
Optimising customer experience and effectively managing connection is crucial in the current climate, as the impression businesses make now when clients are vulnerable, will strongly influence future, post-pandemic public opinion.
While the COVID-19 crisis and nationwide lockdown have threatened the everyday sense of security Australians are accustomed to, businesses can restore some stability and comfort to their customer and client base through dependable, responsive service and organic communication.
Take your customer on the journey. As we start to navigate the road out of COVID-19, businesses must anticipate transformed customer needs and prepare for remnant uncertainty after the crisis has passed. Consumer spending trends have shifted and will remain changed after the global lockdowns are over, with more reserved and cautious behaviours expected. Many individuals have been cut off from steady income sources as a result of this pandemic, and countless households and businesses have been made aware of their own financial frailty.
It’s understandable customers and businesses alike may continue to be conservative in future spending practices, in order to replenish savings and bolster the bottom line. Brands can address this by communicating how their business is adding value to customers and clarifying what place their services and products have in supporting clients and consumers post-pandemic.
Connect more meaningfully than ever by conveying empathy, effort and exploration through remote customer service. Communicating with emotional intelligence, care and honesty build trust.
Reaching out to customers to thank them for sticking with the business, and to ask for feedback and insights, is an extra step that brands can take to help their clients feel valued. Utilise technology like CRM to create VIP lists of your most valuable and loyal customers, and then reach out to let them know how much they are appreciated.
Employees at the forefront of customer experience services can have invaluable information and advice on improving customer service and relations. They are a resource that shouldn’t be overlooked when reimagining how to pivot operations to support the situation now and in the future.
Whether you’re a B2B or a B2C company, strong and consistent branding is an essential component of confidence and continuity amid times of change. An effective communication strategy empowers and establishes your business as adaptable, resilient and committed to supporting customers in a meaningful and relevant way. Doubling engagement is pivotal in strengthening connection, with both your clients and employees alike.
Customer care will be higher in quality and more productive if your employees are feeling recognised, supported and appreciated. Additionally, maintaining professionalism and high standards of conduct and presentation throughout your company can also help with internal motivation and retaining a sense of stability.
Customers encounter businesses across multiple channels and touchpoints from physical face to face, remote via phone or mail and digital including online and social media. Up until now, many organisations prioritised digital for efficiency. The irony is that now COVID-19 has forced the global adoption of digital tools and remote working environments, it’s no longer good enough to just make those experiences efficient.
People are craving connection and organisations must enhance their human side in the virtual world. Consider how you can embed and amplify human interaction across virtual channels. Be honest with your customers about what’s changed, nurture shared connection and surprise them with unexpected generosity.
Turn shared pain into shared gain. Going through hard times together provides the opportunity for businesses to deepen their relationship with customers and industry. The proactive and innovative measures companies take to support clients now will only fortify connections in the long term. They may even pave the way for how brands and customers will work together in the future.
COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on customers and companies, changing the way we interact, connect and collaborate. As we look to building the new normal, we know that companies and consumers can adapt in a positive way to change and work together to create a bright and prosperous future.
It’s time to reinvent, rebuild and recover. If you’re planning to reach the other side, we’d be delighted to help review your marketing and business strategy using our integrated TaurusBullseye Methodology! Ask us about our Bullseye strategy and crisis communications offerings at info@taurusmarketing.com.au
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
It goes without saying, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy on business. As we adapt and change to fit into the new workplace environment, we have received a wealth of information and recommendations. Businesses are being encouraged now more than ever to maintain their productivity.
So, what will life look like back at the office?
What we have learned these last few months is that the source of nurturing our workplace starts with mental health and the individuals that comprise a business. We have a duty of care to one another to help minimise those psychological effects that may be present in a total online environment. The new normal we now experience, has pushed teams to be more mindful, connected and empathetic with one another, ultimately creating a healthier and happier workspace as more and more people are looking for flexible working arrangements.
Mental health research provides clear evidence on how to effectively keep your head above water when working from home but it doesn’t yet tell us how to manage flexible working arrangements. Although we’ve all heard it all before, routines, good eating, boundaries, breaks and exercise continue to be the most effective and important methods of nurturing and maintaining positive mental health while working through pandemic lockdowns.
So, what are the key things we really need to adopt when we go back to the office? Here are our four tips on how to manage life back at the office.
Managing working from home while your team are in the office may take some getting used to so keep the communication open. There may be initial connectivity adjustments so prepare for an initial teething period so you reduce how tricky it is to navigate. Maintain transparency and call it how it is, while everyone settles in.
For some, there will be that break away from home schooling to be back at the office, others will be dreading the commute and bustle of office life – all of which will take some adjusting. Manage expectation and go easy as you find your feet again.
Whether you’re back in the office or still working from home, structuring your day is a good start to maintaining a positive outlook on your work performance. By having structure, you can plan, focus and create an ideal schedule to help your day flow.
If we’ve learnt anything from working from home, it’s that you’re not in this alone. Seeking support from friends, family, colleagues, mentors or loved ones is a healthy way to create a safe environment not only for yourself but others as well. Most importantly, if problems, issues or feelings persist, be open to seeking professional help and finding more ways to prioritise your work-related mental health.
As we work together to create safe workspaces to nurture mental health, we also work together to create an emotionally intelligent workforce.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
Settling for the status quo is not a part of my plan. The world is full of builders, stabilisers and destroyers. I once was told there are the builders who tend to create, stabilisers who keep things going and then there are destroyers, a necessary evil. The ones who break things down, reinvent and restart the cycle. I have had to be all three of these in my career. And I love it.
I’m a single parent with three children who depend on me. I also have clients who depend on me to give them advice, and I have staff who depend on me to pay them, so they in turn can support their families and pay their mortgages. And that is a great privilege. But it comes with pressure to succeed.
That pressure to get it right, is why I created the Taurus Bullseye™, an approach to defining business goals and then setting out to turn them into reality. With all my years of experience and accumulated knowledge, I wanted to create a simple yet sophisticated methodology that underpins my approach to business and offers a template to my clients and my team.
The Bullseye talks about hitting the centre of the dartboard or as we describe it, the centre of a target you’re aiming for. We start with Business objectives, sending out a questionnaire to new clients asking them first and foremost, what is their ideal scene. Then we move on to marketing and comms and peel back the layers that we need to know, creating clarity and a roadmap to make those goals happen. We then turn that into 90-day plans with a clear direction and quantified outcomes to success.
Success looks different for everyone.
If you take a quick scroll through the Taurus website, you will see an impressive client list with eminent names such as Commonwealth Bank, Dicker Data, Blackmores, Invocare, QBE, MLC and a host of other instantly recognisable brands and companies. We work with start-up entrepreneurs through to ASX-listed multi-nationals, but I measure our success by repeat clients.
Some of our clients have been with us for more than 15 years and some have started companies, become successful, sold and started again. There’s one business that is now on its fifth company with us. But the link between success and our clients is the methodology, looking for what it is you want to achieve and then setting it in stone and working towards it.
I get no greater satisfaction than meeting with our clients after a year and popping the cork on a bottle of champagne to celebrate what magnificent work we have all done. That is an amazing feeling and why I continue to focus strongly on the key objectives – the Bullseye.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
With the #newnormal, comes new responsibilities. As business owners and brands paddle their way around the COVID-19 global pandemic, it comes with a series of aged old worries, amplified – from customer retention to employee wellbeing and overhead costs. However, amongst all these business issues it is important to not lose sight of what counts in the long run – maintaining your customer base.
Media consumption has done a 180 on us overnight. COVID-19 has seen an increase in online and broadcast consumption. While in isolation and staying home, TV and social media are the go-to platforms for daily (or even hourly) news updates.
Your social media strategy is more important now than ever. Here are a few tips on keeping momentum and maintaining your brand presence on social media in a COVID-19 era:
Now is not the time to ramp up good old fashion sales tactics, but to lend a helping hand. What services can you offer to help your customers?
Yes, it is important to push your brand’s product and services, so you stay relevant (and in business!), but understand that everyone out there is looking at cost savings, so what business value are you giving your customers?
In short: Be present, be genuine, provide value and message how you can help.
Consistently create an emotional connection with your customers by inviting them to anticipate what you have in store. Encourage interaction with consumers through productive and fun activities, e.g. Instagram Lives featuring expert Q&As, online DIY and skills classes or behind the scenes footage of what is happening in your business currently.
What are you doing as a business to #pivot so that your customers can gain some inspiration and follow you through this crisis?
Once you have used social media to leverage your brand, look at your numbers. Which posts are faring well? Do your customers enjoy short videos detailing insights into how your business is adapting? What is the number of clicks on your pinned posts?
Asking these questions frequently will aid your business in turning the tides quicker.
However, none of this will matter if it is not done in an efficient and quick manner, which brings us to the next point – proactivity.
Businesses who do not respond to the crisis in time risk falling behind and losing themselves in the clutter and the chatter. Consumers have increasingly become time-poor and seek comfort, connectivity and reassurance. A simple note of thanks, an update on delivery wait times, a feel-good quote or a smart tip can go a long way in securing your customer base long after this crisis has ended.
Confirm your social media team has been educated on what type of stance your business is taking, what results you are looking to gain from your social media presence and how to monitor and respond to changes. Set clear guidelines on what type of messaging you want to broadcast to your audience.
Customers value thoughtful posts and consistency. Create brand awareness by asking yourself how you will add value to your social media page. Remember, consistency builds trust.
TaurusSocial© is an innovative service offered by Taurus, advising you on every aspect of your social media presence, what you should be doing, what works and what to steer clear of in these unprecedented times. Read more about TaurusSocial© here.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
As parts of Australia gradually come out of lockdown, there are mixed feelings on the positive changes that took place during the pandemic, and an emphasis by employers to help teams identify ways to cope as we emerge from this period of social isolation.
Discussions around mental health have dominated during the pandemic surrounding working from home (WFH) and the strict quarantine environments. This (in some cases) almost two-year period of isolation has given individuals the opportunity to self-reflect and learn more about their mental and physical wellbeing and what is important.
So, how do we maintain these positive changes when we return to so called ‘normal’ life?
The reality is that that everyone is re-adjusting returning to normal life at their own pace. For many this may take some time and that’s okay. For others, it already seems like the lockdown was a distant memory.
The anticipation of coming out of lockdown may cause anxiety for some, whether it’s the commute, going back to the office or just socially interacting with people more regularly for the first time in a while. Individuals have been affected by lockdown in different ways so it’s only natural that some people may be hesitant about transitioning back to the new ‘normal’.
Here are four steps you can take to ensure healthy mental health practices are maintained in your personal and professional life as we emerge from lockdown:
Lockdown provided individuals with a different use of their time. With little or no commuting, limited social plans and reduced movement, individuals were forced to self regulate work and leisure and take a pause and reflect.
Many people have used the time in lockdown to focus on their mental health through acts of self-care and spirituality, some even saying they found valuable time to examine routines, relationships and their purpose in order to reconnect with themselves.
Such valuable self-care or spirituality is something we could bring with us into the hustle of day-to-day life.
By managing time and expectations, individuals can develop positive mental wellbeing routines that suit the fast-paced environment we are all used to.
Take everything step by step. This gives you space to focus on what you can control and allows you to ease back to a new routine at your own pace. This may be saying no to plans with friends or talking to your boss about a continued work from home attendance.
It is important to pause and self-reflect on how you are getting on as time progresses.
Returning to the office or enjoying social activities can be draining in the initial stages of coming out of lockdown. However, don’t feel discouraged by this as experts say, this is completely normal. Our bodies are accustomed to staying at home with limited movement around the house. Your full energy will be back before you know it, with time, routine and patience.
It is recommended you give yourself time to rejuvenate. After almost two years of no international travel and limited time to go on a break, maybe it is time to take some annual leave and go on holidays to relax, revive and reset.
Finally, make sure you are still prioritising time for self-care, the typical advice to exercise, get enough sleep, eat healthily and taking time for yourself is essential for yourself and those around you.
As this is an uncertain time for many, these anxieties are not just at an individual level. By having conversations with those around us, we can all play a part in supporting one another during this transformational time and in shaping a more positive and mindful environment for everyone.
For more advice on how to prioritise your mental health in trying times, Taurus client, Dr Frank Chow of 2OP Health at: www.2ophealth.com.au is offering great advice and individual and workplace consultations. Dr Frank Chow is a psychiatrist and the director of 2OP Health. He is a specialist in organisational and occupational psychiatric service, specialising in work related mental health care. With years of experience, Dr Frank Chow is passionate about advocating early intervention, education and rehabilitation for all individuals so that they can get back on track with improved clarity, motivation and fulfilment at work.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
24/7 – it is all about COVID.
And it’s not just inside our homes that Covid speak feels overwhelming.
A trip to the local café for a takeaway provides a widescreen TV with the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian being interviewed and providing another update on COVID transmissions and vaccinations.
We are being encouraged not to look at case numbers but to focus on vaccination.
With Covid cases edging over 1,000 a day, the Premier is working towards getting us out of this. The 5kms rule has seriously impacted my freedom.
The comms approach however is to be applauded. She uses every means at her disposal to let the people of New South Wales know what is happening each day.
I am wishing the day comes soon when, like Singapore, authorities no longer need to report daily transmission and vaccination numbers and we can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Back home, families say “You don’t watch scary movies anymore. You just watch the news.”
The tone of the comment touches on another point. There is another reality emerging which isn’t so widely canvassed by those in power and that is the independent views of young adults living under the one roof, as I do, and who have conflicting views about getting the jab. This is even though Gladys, her Health Minister, Brad Hazzard and our NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, aren’t mixing their words:
“Vaccination rates continued to be the most important number in terms of the easing of restrictions.”
The reality is we are living in 2021 and these young adults spend so much of their time reading articles that don’t necessarily align with the thinking of our powerbrokers and question whether the jab is for them. Some of these principles of taking a stand based on their own research might well be challenged if vaccination passports are being rolled out.
Where does individual rights and choice stand?
My own office building has dictated, only those who are double vaccinated will be allowed back to work.
I worry for my children, they have no choice. As travel, a sporting game (either as a participant or a spectator) depends on showing a two jab COVID vaccination card. In the Uk, the public are fighting this as we speak on the basis of how it will be policed.
Time will tell on this front for NSW and Australia.
Regardless of which camp you sit in or your beliefs, we all need to protect our mental health and those around us.
Exercise is helping so many people stay sane during this lockdown. The amount of exercise and how strenuous it is obviously depends on our health and age. I was taken back to read a dog walker announce he was fined $500 by police for not wearing a face mask because his exercise didn’t look “strenuous enough.” I walk fast with my dog each morning.
It’s a shame to have to live in fear.
Now with so many people walking (at whatever speed) police have confirmed this falls under the heading of exercise. As to the Balmain dog walker, police said there was more to the story.
While I try to stay in the best space regarding my mental health and that of my team, we are constantly helping each other with tips and advice. We even did a stretch this am as we did our morning team meeting.
To help us all during these difficult times, here are some tips:
And perhaps as we started, it’s best to limit the news items you watch each day.
Sharon Williams, Founder and CEO, Taurus Group
The world has changed quickly and we now live in a new progressively virtual world. Whether working at home or in the office, it is important to present yourself in a professional light.
This is leadership in the new normal
1. Look at what needs to happen today, in a month and in 6 months.
2. Determine quickly your cashflow threshold to match the same periods above.
3. Identify weaknesses and threats.
4. Ask your suppliers for help – what can they do?
5. Over communicate with staff and customers.
6. Work out what has to cut and communicate it fast.
7. Ask your people, what is their minimum home budget to survive – can they afford pay cuts – amazing teams will pull together to keep their job security and keep business afloat.
8. Look at the leader you are in the mirror and stand Tall. Then Taller. This is why you are the leader.
9. Make key decisions quickly and decisively.
10. Re-examine your business and it’s new potential.
11. Make a new plan.
12. Get some Sleep. Wake up and repeat!
