Working with COVID-19

Despite the title, thankfully I haven’t been diagnosed with having COVID-19. I am, much like the rest of the world shocked at how fast this virus has spread around the globe. When I first started to hear of a flu like virus emanating from China, I passed it off as a fad, something that would create headlines for a week or two before we all moved on. How wrong I was.

As a Co-Owner & Partner in a business, here are my top tips for SME’s working with, reacting to, and ultimately coping with COVID-19.

• React fast. As quick as this virus has impacted on your business you need to react in the same speedy manner. Things won’t improve next week, or next month. By all accounts we will only start to see an improvement come September 2020 and it's unlikely that we will be back to ‘normal’ until 2021.
• Cost saving. It goes without saying that if we all look at what goes out each month; it’s a lot! Negotiate with suppliers and talk to staff if required.
• Realisation and acceptance. I went through a number of emotions as this virus started to impact at the start of February. From disbelief to anger. Pure annoyance that I wasn’t achieving what I had been used to for so many years. However, everyone’s in the same boat. The sooner you realise and accept this, the sooner you can begin to focus on keeping your brand alive and weathering the storm.
• Working differently. The core essence of what we do as a business won’t change, however that doesn’t mean that we all can’t be more flexible during this period.
• Working from home. For some of us this has been one of the biggest challenges. A lack of routine. If you have a young family or are in virtual lockdown it can be incredibly tiring. Try and settle into a routine that mimics your office life. Starting at 9am and wrapping up by 6pm with an hour’s lunch. Getting at least 1hrs exercise in during the day and trying to eat healthily so that you are not lethargic. Easier said than done – it took me around 2 weeks to settle into an effective pattern.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff. Some days will be better than others. I for one have had days that frankly speaking could have been spent at the pub or beach and have been just as effective. Don’t let it get you down. Power on through and you will be rewarded – if not now, in the future.
• Be a better you. Use the downtime that you now have to be a better you. Take up that language course, pick up that guitar gathering dust in the corner, spend more time with your kids or loved ones, get fit, learn to make that tagine that you told yourself you would replicate after that trip to Morocco in 2010. Whatever it is, do it.
• Limit your news intake. Try and limit your news intake to 1hr a day. You don’t need to be consistently drip fed the same news over a 24hr period.
• Keep in touch with loved ones. It’s easy to take friends and family for granted. I have been blessed to have a super family and group of friends that I miss back in the UK – Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, all help us feel connected albeit virtually so connect as much as you can.

Together we will get through 2020 and all emerge as stronger as talented individuals that have embraced change together ready for 2021. Good luck!