• Agile Coach

Creativity in Times of Crisis. Business Agility in miniature.

I live in Delft and have the most beautiful front yard in the country: the cozy historic city center. Currently a somewhat too serene front yard, unfortunately. Because also in my hometown the measures to combat the coronavirus are cutting deep. Terraces are deserted, many closed stores and tourists have disappeared. Everything is making way for silence. And creativity.

Delft has ranked No. 2 for years in terms of hospitality density (I don’t have to tell you which city on the Amstel is No. 1, of course). The historic city center attracts some 3 million visitors annually. So do the math, this crisis is out to make our City of Princes a head shorter as well. It saddens me to see the major health and financial consequences. Yet I also draw hope from the whole situation. There is light on the horizon. Is once again confirmed how decisive, agile and creative we can all be. Unfortunately, we only need a crisis to become aware of this ourselves.

Creativity in the local economy

Suddenly it can. Or it must. Small-scale pivots (changes, adaptations) to existing business models are all emerging. Look at one of my favorite Delft pubs that now delivers draft beers in mini caskets to your home. There are probably plenty of restaurants in your neighborhood, too, that are now doing take away and delivery. Some have even immediately converted their websites to food web stores. A day before the crisis measures, they were still running trays, but within hours they are developing a new proposition. Including all the marketing, communications and logistics that go along with it.

A few more inspiring examples. My gym is renting out its spinning bikes to members this period. This way everyone can work on their health at home and earn some money too. The growers in nearby Westland are organizing drive-throughs so we can brighten up our gardens in the coming period. And they still earn something and have to throw away as little as possible. A local menswear store is offering personal-shopping, we can still shop a little safely. Local musicians are preparing an online festival so that everyone can still enjoy live music in their own living rooms this weekend.

Into nature

Have you been to the park yet? A lot more people are walking in nature, for example around the corner from me in Delftse Hout. Logical, since there is much more time now and little other entertainment. After all, the gyms, pubs, restaurants and theaters are closed. So we head out into nature and walk together at a safely familiar distance. The result? Really good conversations arise again and relationships and friendships deepen. Nature also does something good to us. We might have lost that a bit.

It also makes me more creative

I was just as good at the gym these past few months. This year I not only paid dues (recognizable?), but actually went. Now I can proudly write: I am mega fit. And I’d like to keep it that way. So I ordered some weights and my greatest friend and torment at the same time: one of those abs wheels. Working out at home never worked out for some reason. Now I’m looking forward to it!

Also with our team of Agile Coaches, we are working together daily to explore how we can help our clients even better. How we too can respond creatively and flexibly and develop online training. This is now even more effective and decisive than usual. Because as enterprising types, we were not often sitting still, but now we produce even more useful output. And we work together very intensely. At a distance of more than 1.5 meters, of course.

I’m curious to hear your inspiring stories. How creatively and resiliently is your team or organization handling the situation? Do you have tips we can share or can we help you with arising issues?