Guiding Your Clients Out of Crisis

What type of client do you serve?  Many businesses are centered around helping other businesses, while others are focused on helping individuals.  Regardless of which group you serve, it’s your responsibility to lead them out of the crisis that they currently find themselves in.

You did not cause the situation that you find your business in; that is the first thing to remember. This situation was a direct result based upon the decisions of government leaders at the local, state, federal and international level. Never before in history has a government taken a robust economy and shut it down in a matter for a few weeks.

You may have woken up today stressed and worried about the economy and its effects on your business and your clients. That is a normal reaction and one many of us are thinking about.  Now, on my morning runs I often find myself pondering about the stressors of our current situation. I used to listen to podcasts about sports and business and now I can’t even escape to that.  The chaotic situation caused by our government is inescapable.  However, what I don’t do is let the negativity of the news and media dictate my day.  I have an obligation to my family and my clients to lead them out of this mess. You have the same obligation to those whom depend on you.

The second thing to remember is that your clients do depend on you. They depend on you for outcomes to solve their problems. They depend on you to stay in business. They depend on you to provide expert advice in the field you are in. This is true regardless of your industry.

The world economy is intertwined.  It is a fact that buying a candy bar in a gas station sets in motion an economic ripple felt around the world.  Every one of us contributes to the livelihood of others. There will always be bad actors amongst us, however, the majority are good actors. People who just want to serve their clients.

If you are in business, have a job, or if you are a student you are essential.  The world needs you.  We need your skills.  We need your knowledge.  We need your perspective.  We need your talents.  We need what you will contribute 1, 3, 20, 50 years from now. We need you now more than ever.

The world actually can’t afford to take 6 weeks off. It just is not practical. I do get frustrated at those who have lost their motivation to contribute and are riding this out. There are some people who will not immediately return to work by choice. But I also have empathy because of the barrage of negativity coming from the media is hard for some personality types to overcome.

The third thing to remember is the media is not acting in your best interest, they are acting in theirs.  As this situation cools so will their ratings.  We will go back to movies, sports, and work to return to our normal lives. However, those within the media will start to lose their money. Don’t let those that profit from misery dictate what you do with your life. They will stretch this out as long as possible.

While I write this, I have read horrific stories about the massive power grab of some politicians in some states.  The power, they say, is needed because they want to save lives. Some states are restricting commerce completely. These situations will surely end in massive lawsuits followed by settlements of undisclosed amounts. We are too smart to let that nonsense slide.

Now is the time for you to be on your game. Use the slower times to sharpen your skills, create new products, perfect a process, and get ready for a wave. There will be a wave of pent-up emotion that will come pouring out, in some places it is already starting.  Make sure to be there and ready.

If your business is struggling, hold on. Fight like hell and do not let go. Shift, scrimp, shave, adjust, stretch, whatever you need to do. This will not last. This is not permanent.

When your clients call, or when you call them, give them the advice that they need and give them solutions to their problems. Adapt to the restrictions imposed on you, but do not give up.

If you have underperforming employees, you will find out now who they are.  They will show themselves and you have the opportunity to adjust their role or who does their job.  We need all stars and rock stars to guide us out.

Make the new normal for you a better company.  We all need you at your best.  We need to see what you are capable of.