Leading Through the Coronavirus Frenzy
There is no question, that we are in unchartered territory and the "Fear" of the unknown has definitely creeped in our thoughts and minds. However, the one thing that continues to echo throughout it all for me is, "what are the opportunities in all of this?"
What can we as a small business community and of adaptable entrepreneurs do in these times of crisis?
Here is a short list of things I quickly came up with:
Stay Calm. As the leader of your organization/business, your employees, customers, and partners will be looking to you for guidance and direction. They will even turn to you for simple comfort and inspiration. It is therefore important to stay up to date and listen to healthcare providers, trusted sources like the CDC.gov, WHO (World Health Organizations) and local state and city government officials.
Also, practice self-care for yourself and drink lots of fluids, get necessary rest, and be able to manage your own nerves to help those around you be calm as well.
Communicate Frequently. Your employees are going to want to know what is it they should be doing during this time, especially if you are going to have to modify their work schedules or not have them come in and practice social distancing.
Furthermore, you customers and clients will need to know what is going on with your business. Make sure to share and POST if possible, your new working hours with clients or customers. It is so important to let people know as they still might want to visit with you or your business.
Your customers/clients will also want to know: How are you cleaning and disinfecting your space? How are some processes going to change or be different versus regular, day-to-day practices?
What additional precautions are you taking? For example, are spacing out meetings or appointments for clients, students, or patients - disinfecting in between sessions? For example, movie theaters are cutting back on capacity, so customers are not sitting so close together. They are even keeping doors open for better air circulation and ventilation, and providing extra wipes and hand sanitizers. And of course, ALL businesses are recommending employees and clients stay home if they are showing coronavirus symptoms themselves (i.e. sneezing, coughing, sore throat, fever, diarrea, or fatigue).
Be Creative. Remote or virtual work is increasingly popular these days. Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Zoho remote are offering free services during this time.
You can utilize services like live streaming with Facebook live or take videos of your trainings or programs. If you own a gym or workout studio, and weather permits, why not take your classes outdoors? For holistic healthcare practitioners, hold self-massage or stretching seminars. There are a variety of other ways to keep your spine or spirit get in alignment other than through “actual” touch.
Maybe this is the time, you write that webinar or talk you always wanted to do and never had time. You can also start a podcast or newsletter that you might have been putting off. Take advantage of this down time to get some of those creative ideas implemented.
Stay Present. Unfortunately, our brains love to quickly jump to the “what ifs” and oh no, what am I missing or what’s going to change?. Instead, think of the HERE and Now. With the extra time, take advantage to do something you normally don’t have time to do. For example, with the food and beverage industries, you can take business online instead. Plan to do your own deliveries of food within a certain mile radius. You could even take a step back and assess what are some things you may want to change in your business, by soliciting or asking for feedback from customers on their experience with your establishment? You can then make improvements once this temporary “situation” passes. Other possibilities involve:
Providing meal plans to your customers with suggested or planned meal preps or menus for the week.
Allow your customers to call ahead and order what they want. Provide drive through coffee service, or car and/or curbside deliveries. This way, they don’t need to wait in line or come inside your store or establishment.
This could also be an opportunity to update or enhance your website and maybe even tell stories about you and your company and employees.
5. Stay Connected & Volunteer. What are things that you can do that is easy for our heads to wrap around? What is at your disposal right now? For example, if you own a restaurant and your food is about to go bad due to lack of customers, consider donating to local food bank or other places that could use the food immediately. For those who don’t have physical items, you can check in on others, such as neighbors, seniors, and fellow business owners to see what they could use or need and be of assistance.
This is also an opportunity to collaborate with other businesses. How can you each benefit from working together and helping each other?
For example, if you own a children’s play space and you can take your classes outside, maybe partner with local yogurt companies or ice cream/candy shops to also provide the option for individual wrapped candy sales or ice cream catering during the activity that can boost their sales as well. This is our time to come together as a small business community.
Or if you are boutique or clothing shop owners, maybe invite some skin care specialists or hair stylists to come in and do full on make-overs for clients. In fact, that would even boost peoples spirits and help them through tough times right now.
Lastly, if you are a brick and mortar business that has employees, here are three more things to consider:
Negotiate with your landlord and creditors on special consideration for rent in the upcoming months. It’s even better if you’re able to gather neighboring or fellow commercial renters in talking with the landlord due to this unique hardship. It is also important to check in on local county or city ordinances that may provide eviction or rent relief.
Adjust your employee’s schedule to meet the needs of the customers/clients. If possible, you could also stagger their shifts, so they are not working together at the same time and keeping with social distancing standards. Ask your employees to stay home, especially if they are experiencing symptoms, like sore throat, coughing, sneezing, or fever and make sure you follow the STATE required paid sick leave pay scale. For example, for those of us here in California, it’s at least 24 hours a year of accrued sick time for a full time employee. Most of your payroll services can support you with providing sick paid leave, make sure you specific which state and CITY you are doing business in.
Remember to utilize government resources. The SBA (Small Business Administration) is allowing small businesses to apply for Disaster Loans. We know that the most vulnerable economically are the small businesses who are paying hourly employees. The normal income revenue for these businesses is also heavily impacted with recent social distancing and self quarantining guidelines. PLEASE avoid, if you can, online credit or loan companies that are offering you extreme or high double digit interest rates.
Here are some links that provide additional resources and support your research:
https://business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019
https://business.ca.gov/advantages/small-business-innovation-and-entrepreneurship/how-we-can-help/
https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/business
https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/
https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/small-business-resources-for-surviving-coronavirus
Lead With Compassion
This is the time that true leadership shines. Your ability to stay calm and alleviate your employees’ and customers’ anxiety and stress will make you stand out amongst the rest. Communicating through uncertainty is an essential leadership skill. So, use the steps above to find your own sense of focus first, and then share your plan and resilience with others.
Please send me a line or reach out to let me know how things are going for you.