As a small business owner, you will need to make some adjustments in how you run your company during unforeseen circumstances. How you choose to operate your business now could end up being an improvement in the long run.

Adapt Where You Can

Regardless of the type of business you run, change can be disruptive. However, Zenefits says that even in the face of the major stress of the coronavirus, it is possible to keep going. For many businesses, it is realistic to have employees work from home and conduct meetings via Skype or a similar method. Any type of business can offer larger discounts than usual on the particular service it offers. If your business is part of the service industry, you will probably take a big hit initially, but don’t underestimate your chance for a monumental shift in your company’s overall mission.

Deliver to customers free of charge or at discounted rates. Offer to help your staff look for emergency grants. Continue to donate to food pantries and shelters. Keep workers on, if at all possible, with them alternating the sparse shifts. Feed them if your business is involved in the food industry. Clothe them if your business is clothing. Put a roof over their heads if your business is hospitality. Take care of your people.

Communicate Effectively

According to CallMultiplier, texts can be a more effective way of communicating with your employees as they can be read at their own time, be kept as reminders and more. It has also been shown that people will read texts faster than they might respond to other communication methods.

Keep in touch with all of your employees on a regular basis, even daily, so everyone knows as much as you do about what is going on with your business during this stressful time. Communicate via cell phone in whatever way works best.

Work With Another Business

Zoom recommends that you consider working with another business, perhaps one different than yours but is still complementary. If you own a restaurant, and another person operates a corner market, you can offer coupons for his or her store, and he or she can offer coupons for yours. If your business has had to close its doors completely right now, offer customers coupons for when you reopen. You can also offer to help another small business in whatever way you can during this transitional time.

Your business would have made changes eventually based on customer needs. Your willingness to adapt in this difficult time will be an eventual improvement for your customers and your employees.

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