If you’re one of the millions around the world affected by the quarantine, you’re probably spending most of your time at home too. If you’re running a business at the same time, there can be a lot of challenges. Thankfully, information and communication technology has progressed in a direction that allows for a more fluid collaboration even when people are not geographically close. Here are some tips to help you manage your enterprise from the comfort of your home.
The Internet is more than critical.
Depending on the nature of your business and what you do in it, you may not necessarily need a high-speed connection. What’s not negotiable, however, is having reliable internet.
Everything is in cyberspace now. Your communication channels, your projects, and all other crucial parts of your work are most probably on the web. Having a secure and reliable connection will hinder your day to day operations and may leave you powerless in some situations.
Picture a meeting with your investors when suddenly the connection is lost. It takes you a couple of minutes before you establish the call again. By then, the attention has already dissipated, along with your momentum. Don’t let that happen.
According to Forbes, using project management software over the Internet will also boost efficiency and productivity for your business.
Communication is key.
Even back when you were in the office or store, communication is integral to the success of your operations. However, now that you can’t see your team doing their work, communication has taken on an even more important role.
Always keep your communication channels open. Using both online and traditional methods may be ideal for specific industries. Landlines are incredibly resilient. You can still use them even if both the internet and power are out.
Don’t strictly talk about work. From time to time, it’s also nice to hear the leader asking about how people are doing in their lives, especially during this pandemic. Your people are your most valuable resources, and making sure they’re okay is also part of your job.
If you’re running a large company with hundreds or even thousands of employees, you can hold big meetings where everyone is encouraged to join. You can also employ the services of a corporate video production team to create videos for important announcements. That will give your workforce a sense that the ship you’re helming is still on peaceful waters.
Financial management is elusive.
Since costs are vastly different from when you were working back in an office or a store, it can be easy to assume that running your business from home is significantly cheaper.
But there are still some expenses that are bound to arise in this setup. That includes your power and internet bills. Upgrading your connection may be a necessity and should be part of your calculations.
There’s also the possibility of getting new equipment for your home and your team’s homes. Not everyone will need only a laptop and a connection. Depending on your work, you may be looking at buying specialized equipment for everyone.
Don’t underestimate the costs and make a detailed financial plan.
Running a business has always been challenging. Now that most people are doing it from home, it’s taken up a notch. But if you follow these tips, you should be fine.
