5 Tips for Leading Your Company Through COVID-19

5 Tips for Leading Your Company Through COVID-19

The rise of COVID-19 has tested all of us in ways we never previously imagined. Small-business owners have felt a particularly big strain, especially those who must still send employees out into the field even amidst warnings to isolate and self-quarantine.

Onsite system installers don’t have the luxury of working remotely. This can lead to no small amount of anxiety on the part of business owners and employees alike. Here are a few simple steps to provide steady, reassuring leadership through unprecedented times.

1) Be truthful but optimistic. 
As you talk to your company about the treacherous present and the unclear future, it’s important to do so from a posture of hopefulness: Assert that your business will weather this storm and that things will get back to normal sooner or later. Your team members need to hear that hopeful tone. What they don’t need are false assurances. None of us know how long this will last or what the overall fallout will be, so lace your optimism with straight talk about all the things that remain uncertain.

2) Don’t assume you know why your employees are afraid.
Some of your employees will justifiably find this season to be stressful and scary. But remember, you don’t know the specific nature of their fears. Some may worry about job loss, but others may have personal, family or health-related concerns. It’s never been more important to listen, avoid assumptions and let your employees know they can talk to you about whatever is bothering them. 

3) Expect some chaos.
The general unpredictability of the coronavirus means it’s really hard to set long-term plans. During this tumultuous time, it may be better to focus on setting short-term goals with more regular check-in points. Now may not be the best time to tell your employees you want to bring in 30 new maintenance accounts this year. Instead, set the smaller goal of checking in with existing customers, or of completing a couple of significant projects over the next week or two.

4) Embrace new beginnings and opportunities.
Challenging times can bring surprising opportunities. We’re already seeing this as some pumpers report an uptick in service calls related to disposable-wipe clogs during the ongoing toilet paper shortage. It’s not an ideal situation, but work is work. Be open to some ways in which changing circumstances can help you transform the focus of your business.

5) Seek help as you need it.
There are a number of opportunities available for financial assistance, whether through Small Business Administration loans (available in some states) or through pending federal stimulus. These are uncharted waters, and if your business is running into hardship, it’s perfectly OK to seek help. Keep your eyes open for additional ways to get the boost you need.

Nobody knows the endgame of COVID-19, but with a suitably optimistic and pragmatic attitude, you can lead your business ever forward. 

If you have ideas of your own to share that could help other septic company owners lead their companies through these uncertain times, leave a comment below. 


About the author
Amanda E. Clark is the president and editor-in-chief of Grammar Chic, a full-service professional writing company. She is a published ghostwriter and editor, and she's currently under contract with literary agencies in Malibu, California and Dublin. Since founding Grammar Chic in 2008, Clark, along with her team of skilled professional writers, has offered expertise to clients in the creative, business and academic fields. The company accepts a wide range of projects; often engages in content and social media marketing; and drafts resumes, press releases, web content, marketing materials and ghostwritten creative pieces. Contact Clark at www.grammarchic.net.



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