Since the COVID-19 started infecting people in China, business owners have been busy figuring out how to keep staff safe and their business operating. In a situation where the COVID-19 effects are basically shutting down businesses around the globe, business owners and managers need to keep their heads cool. Each company should come up with a plan and prepare for the possible "turbulence" & scenarios that might occur while trying to overcome crisis.
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.
Charles Darwin
The stability of the company is reflected in the way their leaders react in these situations. Panic does no good to anyone and false optimism is not an option. You will need to make a plan and show your team the leadership it needs in this stressful time. Read our guidelines to find out all you need to do in order to help your business during COVID-19 outbreak.
Take your time to think
Our crazy daily routines never allow us to actually stop and take time to think. Many great leaders spend even 10 hours a week just thinking. LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner schedules two hour blocks each day to devote to thinking.
Some leaders keep Friday away from the office. Believe it or not, ideas for new businesses do pop into head while cycling through the forest. Being away from the boardroom can mean getting much more done because you are not caught in the stress of the day-to-day.
It might sound funny, but I consider a day I spent doing absolutely nothing as one of my biggest entrepreneurial moments. In 1998, I went up to my family cabin alone with nothing on my to-do list but "just think" and it changed the course of my business forever.
Brian Scudamore
While not everyone needs 10 hours a week for big-picture thinking, we at Addria do firmly believe that regularly taking some time to "just think" is key at every level of the business.
Some people might think this is the worst possible time to be focusing on big-picture stuff – but to us, that means it's actually the perfect time. Because the thing about "just thinking" is that if you don't make time for it, you'll never do it.
Personal development
In a matter of weeks, coronavirus has changed education system around the world. Those changes give us a glimpse at how education could easily change if needed. COVID-19 has forced educational institutions worldwide to search for innovative solutions in a relatively short period of time.
Resilience must be built into our educational systems.
Gloria Tam & Diana El-Azar, Minerva Project
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of building resilience to face various threats, from pandemic disease to extremist violence to climate insecurity, and even, yes, rapid technological change.
The pandemic is also an opportunity to remind ourselves of the skills we all need in this unpredictable world such as decision making, communication, creative problem solving, and perhaps above all, adaptability.
You are probably doing your civic duty and self-isolating in your house. How often have you said you wanted to read more, but you didn’t have the time? There are lots of ways to educate yourself, with blogs, apps and online courses at your fingertips.
Prepare for a changed world
We should expect that the COVID-19 crisis will change our businesses and society in many important ways. For many Americans right now, the coronavirus pandemic is a reminder of 9/11 or the 2008 financial crisis. Those were the events that reshaped society. That is when world permanently changed - from how we travel and buy homes, to the level of security and surveillance we’re accustomed to, and even to the language we use.
COVID-19 outbreak has caused a lot of panic across the world and has disrupted lots of business processes along the way. This includes broken supply chains, a halt in manufacturing, and decreased demand for merchandise.
Crises like this one affect small businesses the most. You will have to do whatever it takes in order to help your business survive. Cut expenses, work on your online presence, digitalize your products/services as much as you can and be consistent. Now is great time to outsource any service you won't be able to manage in-house.
“Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.”
Robert Schuller
There is a lot of optimism that this will blow over very soon and things will get back to normal. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, said that he is already observing things getting better, specifically in China.
Once everything settle down, companies should consider what the crisis changed and what they’ve learned so they can reflect them in their plans. Remember that a solid plan can keep you sailing smoothly on stormy seas.
COVID-19 will sweep away many of the artificial barriers to moving more of our lives online. The comfort of being in the presence of others might be replaced by even greater comfort with absence, especially with those we don’t know in person. Instead of asking, “Is there a reason to do this online?” we will be asking, “Is there any good reason to do this in person?”
Unfortunately, those who didn't get used to it will stay behind. The paradox of online communication will be ratcheted up. This change does create more distance, but also more connection, as we communicate more often because it is much more convenient. Video conferencing also cuts travel costs while enabling businesses to enjoy more personal face-to-face communication than ever before.
Improve your online presence
We've heard it all before: Digital platforms are the way of the future. But what does this mean for your company? By improving your online presence, you can reach millions of possible customers around the world.
“Today it’s not about ‘get the traffic’ — it’s about ‘get the targeted and relevant traffic.’”
Adam Audette
A well designed website that highlights your quality and professionalism should be the first step. In addition to having a website that is visually attractive, it needs to be optimized to mobile devices, too. Sites that are not “mobile-friendly” and lack a responsive design are passed up by consumers almost immediately, resulting in loss of sales and leads.
User experience (UX) is a massive priority for search engines, which is precisely why you need to focus on it. In fact, just a second delay in page load can downgrade customer satisfaction. A website needs to be straightforward and very easy to use.
Social media has completely transformed the way people interact with each other, both professionally and personally. Don't forget that transparency and relatability are the keys to draw more customers and partners.
The phrase, "content is king", is still relevant in 2020. Every piece of content available on the internet today, whether it involves infographic, video or a blog post, contributes to the online presence of the business.
Content marketing is an excellent way to introduce your brand and create a personality for the world. Producing content that’s relevant, engaging and informative should be a priority. Not only that, but your content should reflect your brand’s core values and add value, too.
Google will always prefer high-quality content, which improves your website’s chances of being ranked better. By listing on the top of the search engine results page, you can enhance your online presence, increase your brand growth & traffic. All of that will result in more sales.
Remote work will take over as time goes on — more than two-thirds of managers report an increase in productivity from remote workers. Remote work can save money on commuting and office overhead as well.
Cost reduction is one of the many benefits related to outsourcing. Hiring outsourcing team can save you more money than several in-house employees or a local agency. This is the reason why many companies choose to outsource their tasks or projects in order to avoid spending a fortune on additional resources.
Think about others
It’s easier for some people to deal with the crisis than others. The hospitality industry is particularly affected by the coronavirus epidemic. The number of reservations is rapidly going down & some hotels and restaurants were forced by law to close temporarily. The Government has to step up and figure out how to financially make it easier for businesses to survive. We've seen first few steps and we look forward to seeing more support measures rolled out over the coming weeks.
Unfortunately, many people lost their jobs due to coronavirus pandemic and have extreme difficulties finding new ones. More than two-thirds of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Experts predict that people in service jobs, manufacturing, and construction will likely be hit hardest by the coming economic turmoil, which represents more than one-third of the US’s labor force - about 53 million people. As we all know, a majority of that 53 million people lives without health insurance. However, some positive prognosis says that this situation is temporary and will last a few more weeks, as far as all measures have been taken.
Look after yourself, to look after us all – flatten the curve! Check in on elderly neighbours, reach out to people in self isolation - cheer them up by calling or video chatting. Make sure your friends and family feel less alone and have social support. Offer your help to anyone in need and stay calm.
Staying safe is a team effort. To help companies combat COVID-19, we are offering free consultations on how to improve your online presence during crisis.
Be well. Be kind. Have faith. See you on the other side. This too shall pass.
