Almost all entrepreneurs and businessmen are witnessing a horrid time due to the pandemic related problems besides economic and political turmoil.
A few of them are lucky as they are grappling their way to reach the pinnacle of success in spite of the turbulent and troublesome period. But, the majority is forced to face arduous tasks to survive. Their focus is right now on “cost cutting and retrenchment.”
Having “lean and mean business organisations” may not drive such organisations to provide comprehensive customer service and customer care due to limited service personnel. Hence, for them to have “delighted customers” is an uphill task.
Though cost cutting and retrenchment are the need of the hour, in translating your company vision to reality, these may not assist you to meet or exceed your expectations in such endeavours.
If so, what next?
I strongly suggest that you consider focusing on your “People, tasks, processes and Procedures” in a vibrant, resolute and dynamic manner.
Should you be interested, you may consider to evaluate, assess, reassess your people and align and realign them with the tasks, processes and procedures accordingly. The surest and best way to manage change is to “create changes and change with the change” to be the Number one in the respective industries.
You need to motivate and inspire your people in order to do their best in these tough times.
It is advisable to recruit and train self-motivated people who have a passion, purpose, principles as well as go-getters, performers and result-oriented people.
These people are like coconut trees. After you plant them you need not worry about them or the results. They also need minimum or no supervision.
On the contrary if you hire people who are not motivated, then they are like the rose plant which would need constant motivation on a daily basis as you need to water and protect the rose plants frequently.
It is up to you to decide whether you want to grow rose plants or coconut trees.
Motivation comes from external sources and it is temporary. You need to take it like a daily bath. Whereas inspiration comes from an internal source and it is long lasting like your breath.
Hence, you need to hire people whom you could inspire and meet or exceed your organisational goals, objectives and values.
Striking a balance
These freshers could be easily taught and trained to perform well at a “better speed” throughout their careers thereby bringing revenue and profits to your organisation.
However, possible limitations with them will be lack of experience, wisdom and better decision-making skills.
For this you could depend upon the experience of your senior people who have “wisdom” but may not have the “speed” element in terms of action. Therefore, it is suggested to have teams having a mix of seniors and freshers working towards re-establishing your companies like the phoenix rising from the ashes.
Since the manager’s role has become obsolete in organisations, you should encourage team work and each member to have their responsibilities with the assigned leader of the teams. We need leaders as they could transform the team members to be successful and super performers.
These are the people whom you could depend on for your business successes. Your job is not yet over as you need to constantly keep on working to “retain” these “super performers”.
Lessons and secrets
You may consider making your people realise that “change is inevitable” and if they want to be in number one position they must create change and change with the change.
In business two things are detrimental for growth, success and sustainability.
They are “Speed” and “Change”. In business “speed and change is the name of the game.”
You should also make them realise that “doing right things, right” will make them heroes and “doing the right thing, right all the time” will make them “super heroes”. Obviously when they make mistakes they should not get disheartened rather they should learn from their mistakes and bounce back quickly as possible.
These are the type of people who could assist you to navigate your businesses during this crisis and in the future.
I hope that you will agree with me that “mere survival” in the industry should not be your goal and “cost cutting and retrenchment” should not be your only strategies in your businesses.
Rather you should focus on your people, plans, purpose, passion, tasks, processes and procedures thoroughly and take steps and actions immediately to be a “rising star” in your respective industries and march forward towards meeting and exceeding your company goals, objectives and values besides translating your company vision to reality.
You should always ensure that your employees have a razor sharp focus, unwavering commitment, dedication, determination, discipline, devotion to duty, ethicality, quality, standards, creativity, innovativeness, diligence and who will follow your directions and meet the deadlines on or before the set time.
Recruiting employees and selecting and deselecting your customers and retaining both people and customers are the order of the day. Believe in yourself, the people, products and services besides the vision of your organisations. Act now! Explore! Expand! and experience the “world of opportunities and challenges” ahead of you.
The writer is a specialist in professional communication and a pharma marketing and training consultant.