Communication is the key to any organization’s success, especially in times of a crisis. At some point, companies may need to deal with challenging events that directly impact their brand image and reputation, and if left unaddressed, may lead to unmotivated employees—and eventual business failure. As a business owner, you need to be prepared for the worst, guiding your employees and customers toward the right path.
With that in mind, here are different strategies that can help you improve business communications during trying times.
Frequently Communicate
The best way to keep business communications alive and your organization up and running is by communicating with employees frequently. Most leaders need to talk with their team members more often than they’d think is necessary. Doing this can reduce the fear and uncertainties employees may have while ensuring they’ve heard the message. Although executives may experience stress from repeating core messages, they need to realize staff members need to listen to these messages several times to get the actual message across.
Plus, keep in mind that your employees are still people, so besides discussing business matters, consider discussing personal topics. For instance, you can ask them about which organizations offer the best singing and music lessons for your kids to try to discover new abilities or ask them about how their day is going. Doing these can help you let your employees show your concern inside and outside professional matters.
Provide Safe Channels for Feedback
Remember, employees are the ones that help you run the business and eventually make profits, ensuring quality service to your customers and clients. That’s why their opinions on different matters regarding your business matters. So, it’s in your business’s best interest to allow employees to express their concerns without fear of retribution, encouraging them to share what they think the best way is to improve business operations during difficult times.
To do this, you need to communicate the channels available to provide their feedback, emphasizing how much you care and consider employees at different levels. For instance, organizations may offer employees several ways to communicate, including reaching out to their HR department, talking to senior executives, or bringing issues during meetings.
Having different options is crucial since individual workers may view the safety of given communication channels differently based on several reasons, including their relationship with managers and their trust with the HR department. Plus, having choices to give feedback ensures everyone has the means to do, increasing satisfaction with their company’s actions.
Help Employees Work at Home Efficiently
Employees who think they have everything they need at home to work while remaining productive and successful are likely to be happier and satisfied with their companies’ overall response to a crisis. That’s why if you’re looking to maintain productivity, it’s worthwhile to invest in work-from-home equipment for your workers. That’s because for most people, having equipment you’d usually find in an office like headsets and comfortable chairs can make a huge difference in their motivation to work.
Similarly, many workers may need to adjust their meeting time expectations depending on their family and childcare situations.
Address Concerns About Job Security
Understandably, workers may worry about their jobs during a crisis due to the uncertainties that may unfold. Keeping this in mind, business owners should reassure their teams that their employment is secure to prevent employee morale from going down and keeping operations going. Even if this isn’t the case, workers will likely appreciate knowing that they’ll at least have a job amid the various crises unfolding.
Provide Plans for the Future
This strategy relates to employees’ worries about their jobs. Given the different impacts crises have on business, it’s not surprising that many workers are anxious about their organization’s future, looking for the executives and superiors for cues. That’s why when communicating, emphasize to them what’s going well for your business. Generally, it’s best to share as much as you can about your strategies and plans for the future.
Plus, be sure to recognize employees who have gone the extra mile to keep your business alive while helping their colleagues, as it may have a positive ripple effect—ensuring long-term growth and success.
Given how fast and drastically a crisis can change people’s personal and work lives alongside the uncertainties lying ahead, people are more and more looking to receive guidance and support. As a business owner, it’s your job to ensure the business keeps going and your employees intact during difficult situations—and the strategies mentioned can help you with just that.
