COMM U N I T Y
BY: SHARLA BARDIN
Making Modifications Business coach offers tips for businesses during pandemic
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nprecedented times can bring about worry and difficult questions. Business owners are trying to determine their next steps as changes due to the coronavirus pandemic affect operations and the economy. But Henry Dumas, a certified business coach, said companies can navigate through uncertain times by modifying plans, reassessing strategies and staying up-to-date on initiatives and programs now available to businesses. Dumas is the small business management coordinator at Moore Norman Technology Center. He’s recently talked with business owners who worry about their employees and customers and are looking for resources to help. “The best way to stay proactive and not knee-jerk react to economic changes is to conduct a strategic planning session,” Dumas said. “Revisit your purpose as a company, what has made you successful, conduct current marketing research to examine the market and determine what changes to your business model are necessary to ‘survive’ this current crisis.” Here are more tips Dumas offers to businesses:
REASSESS Dumas said business owners should look at the current state of their business to determine what is working and what no longer works, making tweaks 32 | May 2020
to their current business model that will work in this environment. Dumas cautioned businesses owners to monitor their cash flow. Cash “is oxygen for your business. Treat it as such.”
COMMUNICATION Dumas advises business representatives to communicate with their customers. “Let them know what changes you have made to keep them safe as you take care of their needs.” It’s also important to provide customers with an easy way to communicate with the business about their questions or concerns. This can include social media posts, website updates or direct email campaigns. Communication with employees also is key. Dumas recommends that owners keep employees updated about changes and provide avenues where they can ask questions or express concerns. One tool that has become popular among organizations to stay connected is Zoom, an online platform for video and audio conferencing, chat and webinars.
RESOURCES Dumas recommends that business owners keep current on the resources available such as the government’s stimulus measures. In addition, there
are free webinars and online resources available through the U.S. Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov, and guidance for workplaces and employees from the U.S. Department of Labor at www.dol.gov. Also, the Internal Revenue Service provides updates about economic impact payments at www.irs.gov/coronavirus.
SELF-CARE Dumas said it’s important for business owners to gain clarity about what they can and cannot control. “This helps you to focus and make changes where you can and to stay away from needless worry/depression/freezing in place caused by ‘what if’ thinking about what you cannot control, which destroys your mindset and saps your energy,” he said.
TALK WITH OTHERS Dumas suggests that business owners consider a business coach or mentor “who can be a sounding board and help you navigate necessary changes.” He offers free business coaching services to businesses within the technology center’s district, and is accepting new clients. He is a professional certified business coach, one of only a few in the state with the designation from the International Coach Federation. For more information about the service, email Henry.Dumas@mntc.edu. -19SM
