Life After Lockdown - How to Prepare Your Business

"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach. It's the end you're after." – Anthony Robbins

It has impacted so many factors of our lives that a lot of them have become second nature. But the topic of this article is the impact that lockdown has had on the way we run our businesses and what you can do to prepare for life after lockdown.

Adapt

At times, easier said than done, but adaptability is the key to overcoming any obstacle, and not just during a pandemic. If you're unable to embrace change, then you're not adding a competitive advantage to your business.

Businesses that can really understand impending changes and the impact that they can have are better able to recognize the possibilities that they can create and turn them into an advantage. In one extensive survey, 150 C-suite leaders rated adaptability as one of the top 5 skills they felt they needed to succeed in the future; and adaptability was ranked 4th in the LinkedIn Learning Top 5 soft skills needed most going forward.

Darwin summed it up perfectly as those who survive “are not the strongest or the most intelligent, but the most adaptable to change”.

Communicate effectively

Another quality that you should hopefully already be actively engaging in, communication, will be even more essential. If you've decided to keep your employees working remotely or you have new systems in place to deal with deliveries from suppliers, communication will be the key to keeping everything running efficiently.

And keep in mind that communication should extend to your customers too. Let them know about hygiene protocols that you've put in place and when you'll be open for business again. It's no use having your team and suppliers communicating effectively in the background if your customers aren't aware that changes have been made to the way you offer your services or products.

Be considerate to employees

Lockdown has affected everyone differently, and it's essential to keep in mind that some people may be coping with it better than others. Understanding that some of your employees may be feeling anxious or dealing with ill family members at home will go a long way to ensuring that your employees feel acknowledged in the long term.

It isn't just businesses that have been affected by the lockdown; it's our personal lives too. Your employees may still need to be arranging alternative childcare options or even dealing with bereavement. Being considerate towards everyone is essential, now more than ever.

There's only so much physical preparation you can do to get your business back into the swing of things. But by incorporating the above three factors into your everyday thinking, you're giving yourself the mental and emotional preparation that is sure to be needed for life after lockdown.

"The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to the pitcher." – Chinese Proverb