business
OPPORTUNITY IN CHAOS
How to Live and Work While Riding the Waves of Change
by Cathy Forner For over 30 years, in my professional life, I have been responding to disasters and emergencies, building solutions and managing through change. Through this, I have learned the value of planning, finding the best in difficult situations. This pandemic is a crisis that is a “disaster” and many of the disaster-management principles and best practices are relevant. Here are some things you can do to gain control of your business and innovate your way through this time: 1. Focus on the top priorities and key principle of your business. Have honest conversations and take a deep look within your business. Get input from trusted advisors. 2. Do some scenario planning to help you gain clarity. Your focus at this time cannot be on everything – that will be very overwhelming - so ask yourself: what are the priorities that will make the biggest difference for you, your staff and your business? 3. Start an idea bank. In a crisis, the key
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considerations must be the key priorities, but there maybe other ideas that pop up for future consideration. Write everything down and then sort out what needs attention now and what might be “parked” for later. Create a digital location where you can capture every idea and thought (if you do not capture them immediately, it’s likely you will not remember them). Revisit as time allows. 4. Face the emotions and problems head-on. It’s okay to talk about the difficult situations and the emotions that go with them. During the planning process, root issues and core problems often come to light. These can be emotional. Allow time to discuss what is scaring or concerning people. The ability to express those concerns in a safe environment helps people feel supported, and often they can then let those things go, freeing themselves up to focus on the job at hand. Be clear that you might not be able to address issues right away, but that you have heard and take it seriously. 5. Communication is critical. Once your planning becomes decisions and directions, be sure to share this with your team, your stakeholders, and your audiences. Side note: you will need to make your decisions and set your direction
