Managing Tough Times in the Business
Remember: you're not alone in establishing a plan to move your business forward.
Sometimes when business is not going the way it should, business managers and owners try to right the ship alone. This is a critical mistake and can ultimately compound the problem. The proper way to deal with tough times after owning up to them is to bring all of those who work with you up to speed.
Explain the situation, make sure everyone understands what the present position is relative to where it should be, and present a program for moving forward. This program needs to be multi-pronged and concise. It should include ideas for improvement in all phases of the business, everyone’s roles within the company, goals and responsibilities, and an idea of what the company would look like if it reaches the set targets.
It’s also important to explain to employees that despite what they see around them economically, there is business to be had. It might mean that everyone needs to work a bit harder to obtain it, but explain that it is obtainable.
All of you should share your success as well as what you see not working, so that as an organization, you can make necessary adjustments. Having a voice gives employees a sense of importance and leads to higher productivity. When engaging with employees, it’s important to stay confident. This will translate well and work toward shedding insecurities that the employees may have.
-Eric Priceman, Victory
