For some businesses lockdown was an abrupt suspension of activity, some literally ‘shut up shop’ overnight. Others had to adapt operations to continue some level of business with alternative working arrangements. And for the rest, opportunities and sales volumes have grown to unprecedented levels.

Survival and opportunity continue to be two primary drivers for business owners as we start to see tangible signs we’re moving away from the depths of a downturn.

An aspect of the past three months that has been conspicuous is the creativity and fleetness shown by many businesses. Perhaps ‘out of necessity’ owners and their teams have adapted – initially maybe as temporary measures, but increasingly these adaptations are beginning to feel more established and perhaps permanent. In some cases, these may have been overdue improvements with the lockdown providing the impetus to get on with what needed to change, but in many cases the response has been genuinely creative, refreshing and often better than what went before.

Another aspect that has been welcome is the genuine outreach displayed by companies and individuals to help others around them. Both on a local and wider community scale people, often through their businesses, have provided services, support, goodwill, money, time, supplies and contact that have gone beyond what they would usually do.

The benefit of the support received by others in our communities is almost matched by the positive impact on the supporter. Businesses have long realised the intrinsic and tangible benefits to their brand and their teams of being involved with charities and other community activity; our current experiences are surely embedding this even further into our strategies and priorities.

Whether your business has to do a ‘re-start’, or build momentum from being in a constrained holding pattern, or develop more sustainable processes to cope with the increased volume of work in the past weeks – what will you take, nurture and build into your ‘new business’?

1. Build challenge and creativity into the way you run your business – don’t wait for the next crisis!
2. Trust your team to perform in different ways to the norm, be that flexible working hours, varied locations, or challenging out of date role descriptions and objectives
3. Be significant in your local community and do that in a genuine and sustainable way – the benefits of helping others spread very wide
4. Step up to the challenges of safety and hygiene in the way you conduct business, not just in your office but wherever your presence involves contact with others
5. Accept and be positive about change. No matter how good your business is, it can be hit by circumstances, equally it can be better and you can uncover new opportunities – don’t wait, seek them out.

In looking to refresh, renew or rebuild your business there is significant benefit in seeking external help. This includes creative ideas and challenges, structure to turn your ideas into a stretching plan, and guidance and support in putting the plan into action. Contact us now to find out how we can help you build your new business.