Every entrepreneur or businessman works towards obtaining dividends from their businesses thereby focus upon the profits besides reaching their set goals for their companies.
However, now everyone is badly affected by the economic crisis besides the pandemic which have resulted in running the business or enterprises at a loss and thereby their inability to continue with their employees, businesses or enterprises.
It has now come to a point where you are compelled to take risks and continue with your staff and businesses or abruptly halt or withdraw from your entire business operations.
What to do next
Irrespective of whether you are happy, anxious, puzzled, troubled, sad, demotivated, worried, depressed, angry or feel negative, keep on working. I strongly believe that “Work is sacred” and have experienced that “Work is the best antidote for all problems”.
Employees, the towering strength: You need to do and expect quality work from your employees which should have the highest standards.You need to provide direction to your staff and expect diligence, dynamic, devoted, dedicated, disciplined, and determined work with deadlines.
You have to identify the hidden and innate talents of your employees and assess their capabilities to overcome this crisis. You need to judge them on the following; “What are they capable of doing” and “how far they can go?” and assign or reassign tasks accordingly with proper review. Hence, focus on your people first and the process subsequently, though both are equally important. Focus on their contributions to the organisation but do not reduce their perks, like using the butcher›s knife, which they cannot afford any more. Hence, look at the issues in a humanitarian manner. As “nothing is forever» this crisis shall pass on.
Change management
Change is inevitable. For me “Change” means “growth and prosperity”. In business or at work you need to “anticipate changes”, “accept the changes” and “adjust to the changes” or even change with the changes. Do not be victims of changes. As entrepreneurs and businessmen the best way is to “create changes”. You need to be “effective communicators” and thereby make your employees “accept those changes” that are implemented by you.
Also, you need to be a “Master in change, crisis and conflict management”. Prioritise your work and manage your time wisely.
For the businessmen and corporate sectors may I suggest the following rules to follow:
“Choose and re-choose your customers, narrow the focus and dominate the market” to bounce back from the crises.
Conquer your fear: Fear of failure is something that will halt your business attempts and avoid creativity and innovation. In business you need to be courageous, creative, quality oriented, innovative and maintain high standards. Fear arises from being incompetent and due to lack of knowledge, skills and correct attitudes.
Provide your employees with the opportunities to harness, acquire and hone their knowledge and skills to use those for the betterment of the companies which would in turn contribute to the success, profits and progression of your organisation.
The way forward
I have learnt from experience that “do what you fear, the fear will disappear”.
“Cut the branches and do not uproot the tree”.
Timing of implementation: Do not sell flour during the windy season and do not sell salt during the rainy season”.
Persevere: In marching towards your vision, goals and objectives you may slip or falter during your journey towards accomplishments. But, do not surrender yourself to fate.
If the obstacle is underneath then you jump over it. If it is above you then crawl underneath it. Be flexible and open minded.
Always be an agile learner and avid reader to succeed. Set high standards and keep on raising it.
In high jump, when you are successful the target is raised frequently and sometimes you create records. Hence think big, aim high and achieve more and keep on repeating. It’s the “survival of the fittest”.
True that most of the entrepreneurs and businessmen are facing crises. But as a positive thinker let me wind up by stating the opposites of crisis which all of you need to focus upon.
Those are: breakthrough, happiness, recovery, betterment, improvement, good fortune, miracles, success, wonder, rejuvenation, revival, stability, certainty, benefits, boon, peace, solutions, calms, return, rebirth, good luck and blessings.
Hence, focus on these positive dimensions.
Keep moving, move forward in the right direction at the right time.
The writer is a trainer on detailing skills and techniques and a specialist in professional communication.