Everyone in the world is experiencing challenging times right now. And the challenges will probably continue for a while, even after travel and meetings resume and business gets “back to normal.”
Since no one knows what “normal” is going to look like, we need to ensure that we’re not simply propagating “happy talk” but taking positive action as we find the silver lining in this challenge together.
Don’t get me wrong. I love all the positive images and quotes and humor going around at this time to inspire others. But, just as we should follow the good advice to take a break from the negative news that abounds every day and refuse to become obsessed by it, the flip side is also true.
We need to also take a break from reading, watching and sharing the positive and fun items that abound to inspire us, give us a good laugh and “take our minds off our troubles.” We don’t want to become obsessed with those things and lose the opportunity to set ourselves up for success when this is over.
It’s sort of like doing busywork. It FEELS like we’re doing something (“Hey, I’m getting through all this email! “Hey, I’m spreading sunshine to everyone!”), but if we spend all our time on busywork, we actually destroy our ability to get real work done because we’re focusing on the wrong things.
Whether you’re still working at full or reduced pay on the job site or from home, you’ve been furloughed for a while or laid off, or you are an entrepreneur whose business has been put into a temporary holding pattern, let’s keep one thing in mind:
The current challenge WILL end.
What is your plan for when that happens? Will you take charge of your future (whatever it holds) or will you allow yourself to become a “victim” of unfortunate circumstances?
How well you thrive in the long-term depends on how well set yourself up for success in the short-term.
Remember the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi:
“Our future depends on what we do in the present.”
Below are some quick tips for ensuring that you give yourself the best chance of thriving once business starts up again.
Don’t back off now!
Some of you may be experiencing a dramatic change in the way your work, as well as your duties. In these uncertain times, you may even be wondering what will happen when you return, after several months of either changed duties, reduced duties or a complete furlough.
Backing off too much will do nothing to ensure that your employer recognizes your value throughout the crisis and wishes to retain your services once it’s over.
Maintain your discipline to do productive things during the day, such as getting up early, showering and getting dressed, and getting into your “designated workspace” to prepare for a productive day.
Once there, look at the challenges your leaders and teams are having and offer to help (even if they are so overwhelmed that they don’t recognize what they need).
Even if you can’t perform your regular duties, this is a great time to increase your knowledge and expertise. Take online courses, practice little-used skills that may be needed more often in the future, enhance your knowledge of current policies and procedures that may have cost you precious time in the past so you can be more efficient when you return.
Don’t just sit around and be a couch potato. We have never had more “free” time in our lives to not only relax with our families but also enhance our knowledge. So the temptation is great to say, “I have plenty of time. I’ll do it tomorrow!” Believe me, I am fighting that urge daily myself!
If you have ever said, “I don’t have the time to [whatever]”, maybe the time is now. Don’t get caught off guard when things suddenly change again and you find yourself wondering where all that extra time went and wishing you had taken better advantage of it while you had it.
Think ahead!
There has never been a bigger need for proactive and critical thinking.
Ask yourself if there’s something more you could be doing to help your leaders be more productive and your organization remain profitable… or even solvent!
What do your leaders and teams need right now? In the future? What new challenges are they facing? How can you help alleviate the growing pains of doing work remotely or differently?
Which policies, procedures and processes are working? Which are not? Which are necessary and which are redundant or obsolete? Are there things you can start – or stop – doing to be more productive?
What gaps in customer service are revealing themselves? Can you find ways to close those gaps? What new products are being suggested by customers and clients? Listen to what they are asking for. If it doesn’t yet exist at your organization, this could be a wonderful way for your company to add products, services and profits to help them recover after the storm has passed.
Dare to do what others are not willing to do
If you’re in sales or self-employed, you may be thinking, “Why contact people now? No one has the money to do anything at this time.” While this may be true, you have probably never had more time to do prospecting than right now. Start building new relationships (or shore up old ones) so that when the purse strings are loosened up a bit, you will be positioned to provide the services those new relationships will need at that time.
When I was a REALTOR, I used to hear other agents say they didn’t advertise in the Sunday newspaper (yes, we did that back then!) on a holiday weekend because “no one reads the Sunday paper on holiday weekends.”
My philosophy was to go where no one else was going if I thought it might be beneficial. I thought to myself, “Even if they don’t read it on Sunday, they’ll probably save it and read it later. And, if fewer people are advertising on that day, my ads will stand out more!” Sure enough – on Tuesdays after a holiday weekend, my phone would start ringing from the ads I’d placed on Sunday! My sellers sure appreciated my efforts!
Ask questions
Many customer service representatives (and others) are finding themselves in more consultative roles than ever before, with customers requesting unusual services, advice, and even just a compassionate ear to bend at times. We all need to be more empathetic and attentive to their needs than ever before.
Never assume that you know what people are asking for or need. Sometimes they don’t know themselves. Inquiring into exactly why they’re requesting what they’re requesting may reveal what they truly need, which may have nothing to do with your organization! If you pay attention to what’s going on in your community, as well as your organization, you may even be able to point them in the right direction, rather than leaving them frustrated because your organization “can’t solve their problem.”
Stay positive!
Let them know what you’re currently doing to help. Ask permission to take items off someone’s plate and free up their time. Offer to do something that you normally wouldn’t have had time to do in the past, but represents a much-appreciated helping hand now.
Continue to find new ways to remind your leaders that, even if they’re not using your services for certain things now, as they did before, this doesn’t mean that none of your services will be needed later.
I’d love to hear what you’re doing to stay productive at this time and continue to add value for your organization. Please feel free to leave your comments below!
Thanks – and stay safe and healthy!
