Plan Now for the Other Side of the Pandemic
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Plan Now for the Other Side of the Pandemic

Plan Now for the Other Side of the Pandemic

As we begin to see the first signs of the economy opening from the global pandemic meltdown of the last few months, it makes sense to look at your business through a different lens. 

First, recognize that there are certain events in our lives over which we have no control, and the Covid-19 pandemic brings to light one of many “unknowns” that can derail a thriving business. The time is now for planning and positioning your business to respond to market needs post–Covid-19.

Now is the time to plan for the other side. If you wish to come out of this pandemic with a renewed vision and passion for your business, let’s look at some things to consider.

Communicate with your staff.

While you may not be able to physically get your team together, you can certainly videoconference on a weekly basis to encourage, review plans, and gain feedback from your managers. Provide continued encouragement to your team. And if you are open and operating, include information concerning operating hours and schedules, staffing, precautions to take, procedures to follow, what temporary changes may be in place regarding services or products offered, how to handle customer flow, etc. If you laid off workers, consider filing with the proper agencies so that unemployment claims can be expedited. Your employees will remember that you cared when they return. Let employees know what to expect and when you may call them back to work.

Communicate with your customers.

The first emails I received from businesses were along the lines of, “We are in this together,” which was heartwarming. After the first couple of weeks, I began receiving emails that provided more information about closures. Customers want updates on what you are doing and how you are preparing to return to a business environment. People also want to hear good news during trying times. What is your company doing to support others, both inside and outside your company? What is the good news that captures something outstanding about your company culture or your community?

Learning and development.

Whether fully back to work yet or not, employees and managers generally want to improve their capabilities and standing within the company. What blind spots do they have where you might provide resources for online learning? Can you provide product or service training from suppliers or franchisors? What about enhancing leadership skills? Where can you make adjustments with training and team-building to create competent, high-performing teams? Use this time as an example of how a team can come together during a crisis and how that might apply to your operating environment going forward.

Bring your management team together.

Do this virtually or in person to strategize about changes in the business and how you can best get ahead of the curve. Soliciting their input will make them feel more a part of the solution and the planning process going forward. Team contributions to a strategy allows a management team to claim ownership and ensure that visions are realized for both the owner and the company.

Successor development.

If you are considering an exit and have a successor in mind, where are you in the process? You may have some extra time to spend with them reviewing financials or other information critical to their development. Are they working to develop leadership skills in addition to competency in their designated roles within the business? Perhaps this is a good time to initiate a 360-degree review involving feedback from their peers, direct reports, and superiors. Many successor candidates have not managed through a crisis, and this is an excellent time to review how they handled the pandemic.

Facilities improvements.

You may not have the cash to jump into huge projects, but are there areas that need some minor facelifts, new signage, or updating? What about new or additional cleaning stations to ensure a germ-free environment for your employees and customers? Modifying the environment in small ways can add excitement in anticipation of returning customers and staff.

Staffing.

What has the pandemic taught you about staffing? Most are working with streamlined staffs. Is this a more sustainable model as business ramps back up? Are there lessons learned from using staggered shifts that were put in place as a precaution to deal with a possible infection in the workplace?

Strategic Planning.

This is a perfect time to dig back into strategic planning, employing lessons learned, and applying them to planning well beyond the pandemic. 

Conclusion

Recovery may take many months, meaning your leadership is more important than ever. Perhaps more than anything, you can create a positive environment for your staff and customers that will pay dividends, both now and in the future.

David Weaver is an associate of The Rawls Group, a business succession planning firm. He works with business owners and management teams, specializing in strategic planning, business performance, management synergy, and teamwork, helping clients to identify areas that affect performance and culture, and on transforming managers into effective leaders. For additional information, visit www.rawlsgroup.com or call 407-578-4455.

Published: June 19th, 2020

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