There is so much fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 that it’s hard not to get swept up in it all. While most of us have been trying to stay level-headed, feelings of anxiety are undoubtedly starting to creep in, especially when it’s starting to directly affect your life and those around you. Friends losing jobs, siblings moving back home amidst financial insecurity, businesses closing down and loss of clients are just some of the things we’re experiencing. So how can businesses look to a brighter future when right now just seems all doom and gloom? Looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dire the situation might seem, can be the best way forward. We all need to stay focused, take care of one another and build our own silver linings.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Communicating effectively to all stake holders involved in your business is imperative during a crisis. Ensure colleagues, staff, customers and the wider business community are fully informed on how your business will be impacted by coronavirus. Communicate via several channels to ensure the message gets through – phone, email, blogs and social media. Don’t just assume that everyone will know what your action plan is and what your operating changes – inform them. Share your insights, impart valuable advice and share accurate information.
GET PLANNING
If loss of work, customers or clients has left you with more time on your hands, try to use it productively. Take a proactive approach when it comes to future planning and optimise your business in any way that you can. Also take a realistic look at your business and ways you can streamline processes and increase department efficiency. Revise marketing plans, business strategies and PR plans. Most importantly, ensure that you figure out what you need to do right now, in the future and what you need to do should worst case scenario happen.
FAVOUR KINDNESS
Feelings of stress, fear and anxiety about the current state of our lives and our future prospects are likely occupying many minds at this time. However, these types of feelings can result in high levels of cortisol, which can wear down the brain’s ability to function properly. That means you can have a tendency to be working in a flight or fight response and will process emotions differently. Impatience, irritability and a short fuse are not traits that will help ease others burdens right now. We need to favour kindness, even if it’s just the smallest token. Kindness stimulates the production of serotonin which can heal wounds, calm us down and increase happiness.
BE OF SERVICE
Consider how your service and time might be beneficial to someone else. If you can, offer it to them for free. Most of us are fatigued from reading the constant negative news stories so it’s important that we can witness, receive and read some positive news amidst this crisis. Perhaps your business is already doing some amazing acts of kindness to help the community? If so, we want to hear about it and help spread the word. Life has a way of always working out but all of us need to be of service to others. At Boss Media PR we’re offering free PR advice to businesses and reduced PR rates for those who urgently need the support. If you think you could benefit, please reach out to us at tahlia@bossmediapr.com.au.
NEW WAYS TO EVOLVE
Times of crisis can often reveal new opportunities or ways to evolve your business. That doesn’t mean we all need to run out and start selling hand sanitiser, but perhaps these changes have already revealed positive outcomes. New ways of working from home might have already revealed better work/life balances for employees, or an increase in productivity (not to mention the reduced impact on our environment). You may have already pivoted your services or redesigned your offering to keep up with new demands. Perhaps your business has moved to online, allowing you the opportunity to focus your energy there and reconsider if you still need a physical presence. Finding new ways to evolve right now can be a way to maintain focus whilst revealing the silver linings that we all need to look forward to.