Soar to Success December 2020

SOAR TO SUCCESS / Business Acceleration Strategies paid time off can help companies transition to new- normal operations. Communicate early and often. It is vitally important that your communication includes sharing information about how your company protectsboth theemployees andyourorganization. Keep your messages positive and focused on best- practices rather than always trying to address misinformation. There’s enough fearmongering going on right now, so taking a positive approach is the more effective way to communicate. Creating a two-way communication channel where employeescanaskforandreceivetheir supervisors’ responses helps alleviate fear and uncertainty. Having short, check-in meetings every morning is an excellent way to see where your employees are coming from and address their issues before the “grapevine” takes over. Prepare for the future. As businesses ramp up production, they also need to take a longer- term view and think through the post-pandemic implications. Incorporating a more flexible workforce and a digitally-enabled workplace, rethinking your supply chains, offering more digital channels and e-commerce platforms are just a few of the ways to stay ahead of the upcoming changes. Although it’s understandable to want to become more risk-averse in this uncertain environment, these are the times to look for ways to innovate and take some risks tomove your business forward. Even if you don’t want to go all out and change everything, look forways to implement incremental innovation and process improvements. Baby steps, done over time, can lead to long-term changes that keep your business alive and thriving. The manufacturing landscape is changing quickly in response to COVID-19. As you partner with your employees, vendors, and customers through these new experiences, you will retain your talent, maximize your relationships, and increase your productivity.