This virus and the quarantine that came along with it put a big damper on a lot of businesses. The ones that did remain open faced a lot of challenges to do so and they’ve put up quite the fight. With areas slowly beginning to allow businesses to re-open their doors, I want you to keep a few things in mind to make sure you’re prepared.
The first thing you should consider is putting together a plan to re-hire. Many people were furloughed or laid off in the past few months and may return feeling unsure of what they are getting into and how things are going to be moving forward. If you don’t already have an employee manual that goes over things like company policies, regulations, as well as things like paid leave options, I highly recommend doing so. If you do have a manual, some updating will be necessary. Additionally, having plans on how you’ll be cleaning, sanitizing, and following proper health and safety guidelines for your staff and your customers is super important. Things are definitely not going to go back to how they were before, and you want to make sure that the plan you have in place is clear and well-communicated to all.
Communication is key to any business’ survival, and when you have systems in place that keep everyone (meaning you, your employees, your customers, and your community) on the same page, things just run a lot more smoothly. All these people that are involved in the functions of your business day-to-day deserve to know what you are doing to make real changes and how you’re going to go about it. When you open your doors on that first day back, the last thing you want is to be completely overwhelmed and under prepared. Put together a solid system and communicate that to each and every person and things will flow easier.
Lastly, and I teach this to all of my clients on a regular basis, is to really focus on the experience you are creating for people. The work environment you create for your employees, the atmosphere you want your customers to feel, all of these things are more about the experience and less about the actual product or service you provide. Make sure your employees are happy and healthy when they’re at work and not constantly stressed out or angry. Let your customers know that you care about them as much as their patronage. When people feel that they are valued and their comfort and happiness is taken into account, they develop a deep respect for that which is what will keep people coming through your door time and time again.
It’s time for things to start moving forward, and your business should be on the top of that list. Don’t keep yourself stuck in the past and in your old ways. This is a new age of business and to truly succeed, you must change along with the times or you’ll be left behind. Look at this as a huge opportunity to re-think, to re-imagine all that your business could be. The possibilities are endless, set yourself up for nothing less than success.
