“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” –Helen Keller

In a recent article I published, I mentioned that the role of CEO is the loneliest box in the org chart. And that was before the pandemic.

COVID-19 has impacted businesses in a myriad of ways, but what I am hearing collectively from owners and executives is how busy they are as a result of this pandemic. It has upended the way they typically do business.

• Manufacturers are adjusting how they are producing and distributing while keeping warehouse and manufacturing employees safe.
• Business consultants are overwhelmed with requests from clients who need guidance in how to move forward with their business.
• Restaurant owners are working hard to adjust to their new business model as they switch to take out and curbside pickup.
• Musicians are taking their art to the digital realm, playing for us in their living room after having to cancel shows, concerts, and tours that would have happened over the next few months.
• Organizations in every industry are being thrust into a remote work situation for the first time and are adapting as quickly as possible.

The list could go on.

Empower Your People

There is nothing like a disaster to help you identify the challenges that exist within your organization. During this time, weaknesses within your company will be revealed. It will be important to stay calm and stay focused. Direct your energy to adjusting your business model. Think about how you can be creative with the resources you already have. Assess your talent – see how people in your organization can pivot to make the best of this situation, you may be surprised by how your employees will rise to the occasion.

Use this crisis to strengthen your team. You are not in this by yourself – you can lean on the people you work with. Together, you can use the anxious energy you are feeling to fuel positive change.

Get creative. Brainstorm with your team ways you can adapt your services for the here and now. Remember that there will be an after. Once the outbreak has been contained and the world begins to go back to normal, you will have something new to offer your customers.

How Bench Can Help

I founded Bench to help organizations solve the most complex P&L challenges they confront by focusing on their people. And, well, this situation is certainly a complex challenge. Now, more than ever, we need to rely on people and their unique strengths and talents to reach the other side of this crisis with our businesses, sanity, and health intact.

People are the foundation of any business strategy, in times of both crisis and calm. Bench will help you asses your team’s capabilities and skills against those needed for your organization to succeed. With the use of data and intuition, we can help you create a tactical plan to help you and your team move from where you are to where you need to go.

It is a lonely thing to be so unsure of the future. I can help you see a path forward. Contact me here if you need help navigating this unique challenge.