What’s Next?

My friend, Paul, called the other day to trade thoughts on how the coronavirus pandemic was affecting the business world. While still deep into the crisis, he was thinking about the future of a company where he’s a board member and asking, “What happens on the other side?” Great question!

Is it too early to ask this question? For some, perhaps. For many, no. As I suggested before, if you’re running an organization (even if not obviously affected by the pandemic), you should be thinking about the future and how you’ll prosper in it. 

Here are some questions you should start wrestling with:

  • What have you learned during this crisis about how you should operate your business?
  • Will your business model (the way you make a buck) need to change?
  • Will anything change about your relationships with your customers, employees, partners and vendors?
  • Is your supply chain still reliable?
  • Are there new opportunities to profitably satisfy new needs?
  • Can you shake off the understandably negative emotions and think logically about your business?
  • What kinds of assets (e.g., physical, intellectual, people, capital) will you need?
  • How can you help your team be excited and committed after coming through the storm?
  • As a leader, how should you adjust your message, tone and behaviors?

I’m optimistic that what we’re experiencing now isn’t the new normal. I also believe that the future won’t be exactly like the past. So, what’s on the other side? Where do you go now?

If you run an organization and would like to talk, click HERE to schedule a Zoom meeting or email me at [email protected]

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Recent Comments

  • Louis

    3:31 pm April 7, 2020

    Our business is still focused on the current situation. We have weekly 15-minute board call to review: 1. Orders 2. Revenue 3.Expenses 4. Cash. The media industry landscape (advertising in particular) is changing so we are not yet clear on plans for future, though we have started a project to find “ways to assist customers and prospects” by highlighting existing features and functionality in our software. Most “ways” are free to existing customers as they already own the functionality, though they haven’t needed that function until now. One example: We have a communications module to track activity by posting on a ’wall’. Since most staff are separated they can now be connected using their existing application. Once we have a view (or good guess) of the other side of this pandemic we’ll be following your advice as always.

    reply
  • Louis

    3:31 pm April 7, 2020

    Our business is still focused on the current situation. We have weekly 15-minute board call to review: 1. Orders 2. Revenue 3.Expenses 4. Cash. The media industry landscape (advertising in particular) is changing so we are not yet clear on plans for future, though we have started a project to find “ways to assist customers and prospects” by highlighting existing features and functionality in our software. Most “ways” are free to existing customers as they already own the functionality, though they haven’t needed that function until now. One example: We have a communications module to track activity by posting on a ’wall’. Since most staff are separated they can now be connected using their existing application. Once we have a view (or good guess) of the other side of this pandemic we’ll be following your advice as always.

    reply

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