Communication is key to any relationship, be it personal or businesses. We are social creatures and in times when we are being asked to distance ourselves from one another communication is more important than ever.
With everything that is going on at the moment we are being advised to not go to pubs and restaurants. It is very easy to think of these places as venues which sell food and drink but actually what they sell is social interaction. You can drink at home on your own, but it’s not as fun!
Getting out and talking to people helps us understand situations and what is happening, without communication uncertainty breads.
Uncertainty is often worse than any real threat. If you know what you are dealing with you can put plans in place. Of course we still have uncertainty even though the government are starting to announce measures to help small business but there are still many unanswered questions.
Now is the time to talk to staff and customers, let them know the plans you have in place. If you have, staff speak to them about expectations and how they can help to ensure you come out the other side of this. Flexibility is likely to be needed from staff so talk to them now.
If you are able to work from home ensure you use tools such as Google Hangout, Skype, Facetime etc to have ‘face to face’ meetings. Schedule these in each day. Being able to see other people is essential.
Ask how people are and address their concerns. This applies to everyone involved in your business, from your customers to your suppliers and staff.
For your customers, now is the time to ensure your relationship doesn’t break down. Let them know of any changes in your business. Ask how you can help them and explain how they can help you. Talk to your suppliers too, try and keep them in the loop as early as possible so they know what you will or wont need to accommodate the changes in your business.
We are all interconnected and every business, regardless of sector, will feel the effects of this pandemic. Keep talking, keep moving and let’s not forget to be kind.
