While facing a disaster is nothing new for small businesses, the coronavirus pandemic has taught us that we really weren’t as prepared as we thought. We found ourselves unready for many challenges.
For small business owners, now is the time to re-evaluate your business continuity plan and look towards the future. You will want to be sure the continuity plan for your business contains these four elements:
- Communication
- Innovation
- Evaluation
- Activation
Communication
Everyone is just like you, hungry for certainty, which means your audiences need accurate, reliable, timely information. When in disaster mode, frequent updates will help customers maintain their relationship with you as they regain control over their lives.
No one is better qualified than you to know what information is essential for your business to continue or restart. Write it all down!
Innovation
As you work to maintain your business during a disaster and ultimately grow it in the future, you can begin by deciding what changes are needed in order to continue business operations. Can you lessen the impact of future disasters by changing the way you purchase, make, sell, and deliver your products or services?
A disaster may eliminate some business opportunities, but new ones may be created. Can your business capitalize on any of these new opportunities?
Evaluation
Plan your “next normal” by identifying the goods and services you want to offer now or when the environment stabilizes. Consider your workforce availability, skills, and training.
Assess and adapt to what has changed so that you have the tools and resources needed to continue operations. Look at your sales and marketing efforts to be sure that you are sending the right message to your customers.
Activation
Finally, you must implement the plan. Then you reassess, adapt, revise, and continue.
A successful business leader will keep everyone’s vision locked on the company’s goals and make certain employees understand their part. You must be willing to listen intently, change tactics and adopt new ideas, and communicate clearly and often.
Above all, business owners must be resourceful, creative, and resilient.
