Resiliency and the Path Ahead

Does your business have the resiliency that it needs to survive and thrive during chaos? Resiliency can mean bouncing back to where you were. For some organizations that will be just fine, while for others, it may not be enough. Now is the time you should be evaluating where you are and how your team is doing and forging a path to becoming an even better company.

As a leader, you have the responsibility and the opportunity to make sure that your team can do well during this business pause that we’ve all experienced. Here are a few of the things that you should be cognizant of as you assess your business and your staff. It’s important that you communicate “the plan” to all members of your organization. And after you’ve said it once, say it again. In fact, now is the time you probably can’t say it enough. Read your people. While some react well under pressure, others may struggle to keep up. They could be facing family, health, financial issues, or maybe all three of these combined. A good rule of thumb during these times is to be a person first, and a boss second.

The strength of your company culture will show its true colors during these times. Strong, positive cultures will have employees that support one another during difficult times. And while they will show compassion, they will be able to stay focused on the work at hand and not get dragged into the weeds with the distractions of the day. If you find that the culture is not where you’d like it to be, perhaps a good place to start is by identifying and begin breaking down the silos, using this crisis as an opportunity to bring everyone together. This is a time for you to lead, communicate, and share your passion – your vision for the business. Lead those who will follow and find a way to help those who are struggling to keep up.

More than at any other time, this is the moment to rally your team. It’s not easy, and it won’t be, especially if you have not been as communicative as a leader as you would have liked to have been in the past. As someone famous once said, “never let a good crisis go to waste,” well, this is certainly true with these times. Use this as an opportunity to make your company better, your culture stronger, and your people more resilient.

If you have any comments or thoughts as to how you’ve approached these issues, please send me a note or include them below.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic assessments, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion, and helping leaders navigate change through common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn, or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.