It’s a crazy, all consuming time with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. As business owners, we want to lead the way in times of stress, but what can we do? How can we continue to serve our people in the face of uncertainty? What can we do behind the scenes that will make a difference in our businesses?
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First of all, realize that you are a leader. If you are a business owner, you are a risk taker who took a bold step to set up a business. You are a leader and can lead through these uncertain times.
Today I’m sharing 8 actionable items that you can put into action to help you get through this time in business and in life.
1. Create a Strategy
If you need help creating a strategy, check out Episode 5. If you want someone to walk you through strategy, you can reach out to me for a strategic mapping. I have a community of operators who would love to partner with you in this.
Having a strategy in your business is a requirement today.
“Businesses who have a strategy have cash reserves.”
If you don’t have a strategy, there’s never been a better time to create one. Start by defining your mission, vision and values. Figure out the way you show up, why you show up, what your future looks like and from there create a strategic plan to get you to that place.
If you do have a current strategy, it’s time to revisit it… because you will have to adjust.
2. Serve and Sell
Continuously serve your audience, your customers, and your followers. Lean into them and continue to sell. Putting money into circulation will be vital.
“Don’t stop selling… the economy requires us to continuously make transactions.”
Another way to serve organically is through content. You will have more time to work on things that have been on the back burner. Stay in front of your audience so they will remember you when it’s time to buy again.
3. Focus on Your Relationships
Nurture your previous relationships. When we are strapped for time, we go to the revenue generating activities. But now that you have more time:
- nurture the people who have bought from you or who follow you
- build new relationships
- create new partnerships
- pour into communities and build strong relationships
4. Revisit Your Good, Better, Best Goals
“A Good goal covers expenses, a Better goal gives discretionary spending, and a Best goal is wildly beautiful.“
During times of crisis, focus on the good goal and do everything in your power to hit it. This means you might need to change your offers. Also, look at your financials and cancel tools you aren’t using or subscriptions you aren’t taking advantage of.
During these times, you might be asking “Do I need to cut my team?”
If you are scaling your business, and want to remain a scaled business, the last resource you want to cut is your team. Don’t cut the talent that has grown you to this point. These are the people who are going to help you innovate.
“In times of economic crisis, the people who win are those who can get the products out the fastest.”
5. Innovate
You can create great new products and offers during down time. Look back to your
values. Have you let money guide your decisions? Are you working with the audience you want to? Are the products you’ve created aligned with your values? Right now, we have pause, and can change the ways we are showing up for people.
Take the opportunity to decide what aligns with you and how you are going to prepare your audience and your business so you are ready to shoot out of the gates when the time comes.
6. Communicate
You have people who are paying you and listening to you, and I want you to connect with them frequently. If you are a service provider and others are depending on your services, show up and lead the leader. Most of the world has their kids at home. If you are someone who is delivering services, practice the best communication ever so they know what to expect from you. This will provide an amazing amount of value.
7. Clean Up
Clean up your files, existing workflows and processes, website, Google Drive, email sequences… whatever! This actually requires you to sit down, be focused and do some of the grunt work. Take 30 minutes a day to do this, and it will feel like a gift.
8. Give Grace
Connect with people on a human level. Realize you are potentially working with people who have loved ones affected with coronavirus. People are mostly good, I want you to extend these people lots of grace because if you give grace at this time, it will come back to you.
I’m rooting for you! Love your family, wash your hands, pay attention to the backside of your business, and know that you are in good hands.
Previous Episodes Mentioned
Episode 5: Seven Pillars to Your Business Strategy with Andrea Layne
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