Getting Back to Business

What’s Your Back to Business Blueprint?

For some people getting back to business cannot come soon enough. For others it might feel a little weird and the cause of continuous anxiety. I think both ends of the scale and everything in between are all valid. 

However, the fact remains that in the not too distant future, Britain (and the world) will eventually get back to business in some form. In parallel to the slow return to a new normal, we can all be sure that government financial measures that have largely been successful in supporting the small business sector, will begin to get withdrawn. So businesses will need to be self sufficient again as quickly as possible. That means opening up and trading.

Back to business is going to look somewhat different for every country, every sector and indeed every business and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. However, I think everyone needs to start mapping out the steps they need to take to open.

You don’t need to know the exact date you can reopen in order to make a plan. In fact it is better to make the plan and get started now so that you are well prepared once you get the green light.

Here’s what I think you need to think about:

Hygiene & Distancing Protocols

How will you rearrange your premises – closing off waiting areas, removing catering options, increased sanitizing stations, spacing out workstations, figuring out the practicalities of working in masks, face shields and gloves.

Practical changes

Marking out floors and walls for distancing, signage (washing hands, wearing masks, distancing), purchase of hygiene products (sanitiser, gloves, masks, signage).

Internal communication

Discussing plans with your team, offering reassurance, providing training on new hygiene and distancing protocols.

External communications 

Letting customers know of planned reopening, providing reassurance about hygiene and distancing protocols, rearranging appointments/bookings, restart promotional campaigns, preparing an FAQs document (publish on website, send in emails to customers), being clear in advance what people can expect when they visit.

These steps and the communication of them are about confidence and reducing fear – both for you, your team and your customers. This is going to be our world for a bit longer, so we need to adapt to keep going.

We can do this!