Make sure your team is ready for anything with these tips.
As the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said: “Change is the only constant.” Companies across all industries have had to become increasingly agile and adaptable over these last few years. That adaptability will likely continue in the coming years as well.
Here are a few tips from our team that we’ve learned over our more than 15 years in business that can help your organization prepare for the future:
- Internal audit
- Go digital
- Communication is key
- Have a plan
Read on to learn more about these tips for preparing your business for the future.
Internal audit
Do an internal audit of your company and its inner workings. It may sound overwhelming, but even a high-level survey of where there might be information bottlenecks, miscommunications, or missed growth opportunities could yield some constructive feedback.
With a minor tweak here and there or reducing some unnecessary red tape, your team could be working even more smoothly and be ready for whatever’s ahead.
Go digital
If you’re a consumer service-oriented business, having a solid and modern digital footprint is vital to your company’s longevity and success. Having a digital footprint used to just mean having a website, but in 2022, it’s so much more than that.
In addition to a vibrant and user-friendly website, you also might want to consider developing an app so customers can browse and order right from their smartphones and a social media presence so they can always stay up to date.
Communication is key
One of the ongoing struggles for managers is how to best decide where employees should work from and when, especially with COVID-19 shaking things up. Depending on your company’s size, it’s a good idea to dedicate at least one day per week for updates and team communication (preferably in an office, but virtually can work as well). On this day, you can hold company-wide meetings and be sure that nothing will get lost in translation; a 5-minute conversation over the phone or Zoom doesn’t need to be a lengthy email exchange.
If your team is moving to a hybrid or remote schedule permanently, now is the time to set expectations for daily communications as well, including how soon you can expect an email or IM response, what times people will be online working, and more.
Have a plan
Spend some time trying to forecast possible issues or problems that could arise in the future, such as power outages, natural disasters, or database hacks, and sketch out how you and your team could best respond to each. Of course, no one has a crystal ball, and it’s impossible to accurately predict what circumstances could arise, but it’s wise to think through potential scenarios and discuss them with your team.
Gaming out these different scenarios will help everyone feel prepared and able to develop a response.
Reach out to the EZ Office Products team to ensure your business is well-equipped for anything the future might hold. Contact us or request an account to browse our online office supply store today!