A Year Since Lockdown - Gareth Lock

Today we're talking to Gareth Lock, aka The Human Diver, who teaches recreational, military, scientific and commercial divers how to make better decisions under uncertainty to operate more safely. Gareth lives in Malmesbury however he travels and operates globally.

March 23 marks a year since lockdown began and the reality of the pandemic hit the UK. What are your memories of that day? 

I was in Minneapolis, USA until March 13 teaching an air ambulance team and was supposed to be going to Seattle on 14 March to be working with a scientific dive team for a week. 

However, I decided I needed to get back and not be stuck in the US. In regards to the 23rd, I had already realised I was going to be working from home for sometime so started a stronger transition to online programmes.

Thinking back, how did you anticipate the way forward for your business over those first few days? 

I knew I wasn’t going to be travelling around the globe delivering my training, and neither could my recently graduated instructors, so I needed to work out how I could bring my training to individuals via online platforms that I had been using for more than a year.

What actions did you take to save/change/pivot/support your business? 

Spent time building a blended learning programme to ensure the learning continued. Arranged webinar sessions with diving organisations who realised they had members/workers who were going to be stuck at home.

Name any positive outcomes of the last year for your business? 

Greater global awareness of The Human Diver.

Increased sales of books (https://www.thehumandiver.com/underpressure) and online training (https://www.thehumandiver.com/training).

Despite lockdown and the massive challenges involved, the ability to travel to New Zealand to work with a government organisation to improve the safety and performance of that organisation as I have a unique set of skills and knowledge (yes I did have to go into quarantine on arrival!). 

Name any  positive outcomes for you personally over the last year?

Spending more time with my wife and children.

6000km ridden on my bike, of which 4500km was on a smart trainer in the garage!

I have become much fitter and healthier.

What do you most look forward to doing IN BUSINESS as we slowly move out of lockdown? 

Delivering face-to-face experiential training across the globe to improve team and individual performance and safety.

Qualifying my four new Human Diver instructors so that they can teach divers to be safer and more effective.

Growing a number of plans I have in the pipeline including arranging a Human Factors in Diving online conference.

What do you most look forward to doing IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE as we slowly move out of lockdown? 

More travel, both UK and overseas.

Meeting friends in person for dinner and drinks.

What are your predictions for business generally in late 2021 into 2022? 

We should see growth. However, as we like in such a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, anything goes. 

Therefore, it will be those organisations who understand and develop resilience are the ones who will survive.

Name one person who has been a lockdown hero for you over the last year? 

Steph Rickaby, my accountant! (Sunflower Accounts) 

Name one business which has been heroic for you or your community over the last year?

Kajabi, the hosting company for my website and online training.

And finally:

Think about Stephen Covey’s circles of influence and control. Don’t worry about the things that you can’t control or influence, work on the inner two circles because that is how you can create change for you.

For more information visit https://www.thehumandiver.com