If you feel like the world has completely changed in a few short months, you’re not alone! It's scary; that’s for sure. But doing nothing and simply hoping for the best isn't going to help the millions of small businesses on the verge of closing their doors for good.
The silver lining? There are always lessons to be learned in times of trouble. It’s up to you whether or not to follow them. Here’s what we know for sure:
Flexibility is Paramount
The definition of flexibility is “the quality of bending easily without breaking” and it’s the perfect word to describe those businesses thriving in COVID-19’s wake. It doesn’t matter if you’re a mom and pop or a big corporation, the ability to quickly assess a situation and accurately change course, divides the winners from the losers.
Businesses that bend to circumstances are the ones that survive turmoil. Take this local business for example. Pre-COVID-19 they provided healthy lunches to preschools, and were highly successful. Once COVID-19 hit and schools closed, they lost their only customer base. Instead of shutting down, they flew in cases of Maine lobster and started selling lobster rolls. It was a huge success. Once school reopens, they plan to offer lobster rolls in the summers, diversifying their business.
Excellent Leadership is Necessary
Over the past few months, we’ve experienced something most people have never experienced in their lifetimes. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from COVID-19, it’s that excellent leadership gets us to the other side unscathed. Now more than ever it’s vital for managers to have excellent guidance skills, including communication, resilience, foresight, and flexibility.
People Are Very Adaptable
The COVID-19 pandemic has been very challenging. We’ve been forced to adapt to disruptions at home, work, and the community- often without clear direction. From wearing masks to social distancing to self-quarantining, we’ve adapted to this new way of life in a matter of months. It’s no small feat!
While we proved our resilience, we’re also human. Don’t forget to acknowledge that these times are stressful. Eat well, sleep well, exercise when you can, and make contact with loved ones (even if it’s only by phone or Zoom). You’re not alone; we’re in this together!
The Future of Business Will Look Very Different
Anybody who thinks that once COVID-19 runs its course that we’ll return to “business as usual” is kidding themselves. Good or bad, COVID-19 will impact the future of business—not just in the U.S. but worldwide—and reshape the way we do business. Sometimes it seems easier to react to circumstances, get through what we need to get through, and continue on as best we can. But the businesses that succeed will be those that mull over just how COVID-19 impacted their bottom line.
They’ll consider what worked and what didn’t and adjust their business model to reflect those successes and failures. Of course, business owners must concentrate on the present to weather the COVID-19 storm, but for ongoing, future success, they must be prepared for future storms as well.
Conclusion
Businesses are thinking outside the box more and more. Flexible staffing solutions could be one way businesses continue to thrive in the “new normal.” Find out more, now.
