When Things are Slow, Prepare Your Business for Success!

Times are changing, which means that now is the moment to prepare for success. Whether your business has slowed down, is growing at an average pace, or has taken off, it is crucial to organize systems and processes now, which will support growth in the long run.

Many businesses have taken this moment of change as an opportunity to restructure how they run their companies. These changes have most commonly taken the form of allowing employees to work from home, structuring systems so that the company can still deliver goods and services even if most of the office is remote, and changing marketing strategies to more virtual or online marketing.

All of these changes may benefit your business now - and in the long run. When looked at from this point of view, it becomes clear that each alteration made should be documented, and metrics should be created to measure the success of the various changes that have been implemented.

On top of this, you likely have systems, processes, and strategies that you have meant to put into place. Now, more than ever is the time to get these systems in place and working.

Review or Create Documentation

With much of your staff working remotely, it is time to ensure processes and procedures are fully documented and accessible to your teams. If you see that a process or procedure is not in place, take a moment to step back and see if the expected action is being completed, how it is being done, and if necessary changes need to be made within the company - or if the way the goal is now being accomplished should be made into a new process.

As you begin to review processes and procedures, be sure to connect staff activities to overall metrics. If an action is not contributing to your company’s success, take the time to discuss it with your employees, and make a change. If a new activity is contributing to the overall goals of your company, ensure it is documented, and discuss how that action is helping with your staff.

Measure Everything

Even as the market is changing, you need to have stable metrics with which you can measure success. You likely have an idea of the numbers you need to know to run your business effectively. Keep a close eye on these metrics, but don’t be afraid to document and track every change you are making - even if that means you have to add some metrics to your repertoire.

For example, as you shift your marketing strategy from in-person networking to networking online, you may still want to track the number of email addresses you receive and the number of sales made. However, you may also want to track reaches and impressions on your Facebook/Instagram pages to help get a better understanding of whether networking on social media is effective.

Share Positivity

Now is the time to share positive messages and stories with your customers, your staff, and the press. Do what you can to inform everyone of the good news about your company. Whether that good news is that you are still open for business or that you are providing free services, that information will go far in creating stability for your staff, customers, and network. Instilling your customers and staff with confidence will help to boost your company as we move through this existing challenge.

We recognize that it can be difficult to stay positive and to share that positivity with others. If you are having trouble getting into and maintaining a confident mindset, give us a call. The team here at Business Success Consulting Group is available to coach you and help you as you work toward your goals.