KRL Newsletter
2020 - Issue #7
Working Online - Virtual Tips
Can your business work online?
Even as the lockdown situation starts to change, this seems a sensible question right now.
Initial thoughts might be:
- Can you?
- Should you?
- Why wouldn’t you?
- Do you need to?
- What if you don’t?
With limited travel and physical contact options still widely in place for most of us across the globe, it is vital that we not only consider the above, but test and trial options available to us as a business?
So many businesses I am working with have switched to some form on online functionality.
Some I feel will find it works well for them and in many cases replace previous ways of working. They will see economical benefit as well as enhanced communications.
In many cases it opens their market up across the globe and allows them entrance into new markets. For more information on this, it is worth looking at the Anshoff Matrix model.
Whilst it might not work for 100% of your current business, it is essential that you at least consider what elements could you consider moving online?
We are seeing:
- Doctor/patient virtual meetings
- Physio running virtual exercise classes
- Chefs running cooking classes
- Property agent virtual walk through
- Customer calls/virtual visits
- Internal/external update meetings
- Supplier updates
- Training & development
- Webinars
- Product launch
- And so on…
In reality, the possibilities are endless and really quite exciting.
Become creative and look at your business model and make some changes to suit the current environment, the current client needs and so on.
Use the Balanced Scorecard Model to help evaluate your business offering. Or a good old fashioned SWOT analysis and decide what weaknesses need attention in these tough times.
Importantly, outline your SWOT opportunities and where possible – maximise them.
Across the two decades that I have been delivering solutions to clients, from a coaching and training perspective, there has certainly always been elements of what I do being very effective when carried out online.
As of 7 weeks ago and for as far into the future as I can realistically look – all of my business will certainly remain online, 100%. It has to, there is no Option B right now!
Clients are embracing this well and actually the benefits are excellent with little or no downsides. Travel time and expenses suddenly disappear, as do expensive overnight stays and those bar bills!!
It has also removed physical barriers such as distance, location, remote workers and much more.
Yes of course we lose the human interaction piece – but overall online is certainly better than email or the telephone. Our ability to communicate is heightened by the visual part.
Now is the time to carry out some effective due diligence and try and understand what could be done and if so, how would it work and what the benefits internally and externally, might be.
As we know from last night and today, the lockdown is not about to end overnight – so plan and make that change where appropriate.
And then look forward to the positive results, as they will follow.
Normal - was it that good anyway?
As controversial as that sounds, there is the school of thought that perhaps everything within the world of business, was not as great as we thought.
Whilst yes, of course we were not devastated by a global pandemic, nor hit by what is looking to be the worst economic melt down in recent history –however some elements of how and what we did within business needed change.Some of it was stale and expectant.
Therefore, does and can everything, return to normal – and of course, what was normal?
Whilst in this period of transition, it is a good time to evolve and possibly recreate what and who you are.
A time to build what is really needed to thrive and survive going forward.
Evolution not revolution. Retain your company DNA – don’t scare customers away by becoming something that they don’t understand.
We are seeing great examples of businesses adapting to survive and now thriving.
Retain your company core principles and be open and honest. Integrity will play a major part in the global recovery.
A good example might be to start by looking at your customer experience.
This period has and is a great opportunity to improve efficiency and ensure customers receive great service. Great service ,in spite of the current crisis.
Nobody is perfect and I believe right now nobody is expecting perfect – it just cannot exist in the day to day running of everything just now.
Some companies however have used this current crisis as a reason to deliver poor service? That is not acceptable.
Now is the time to bond to customers more than ever. If you are seen to be delivering a great customer experience during this period of upset and unease, then your customer base will see this as positive and reward your efforts.
They will feel reassured that if you can retain a good level during this crisis – then going forward it can only improve.
A little bit of customer service goes a long way. An old adage, but a very true one indeed and right now it might just go a little bit further.
What other parts of your business do you need to consider?
Normal, whatever it was, will most likely not return anytime soon, therefore now is the time to look inwards and make those changes.
Dostoevsky stated, “Times of crisis, of disruption or constructive change, are not only predictable, but desirable. They mean growth. Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.”
Seems a very relevant quote right now, in this rapidly changing world.
Karl Morris - Founder, KRL Consulting
Karl achieved a BSc in Psychology and has over 17 years of designing, delivering and evaluating training and coaching programmes for a wide range of businesses, across a variety of industries.
Karl has extensive experience of working in a variety of roles and companies, this includes senior management positions with RBS Corporate Banking, Bank of Scotland and VW.
He has company director experiences within the UK and US, is an experienced guest speaker both in the UK and overseas, he is a business coach and has successfully managed and run results focussed teams.
He has also trained over 15,000 people from over 1,200 companies, which include Bupa, NatWest, Skype, Siemens, Barclays, Shell Energy, Tarmac, HM Prison Service, NHS and many, many more.
He has good experience also within the SME and Start up to Scale Up markets.
His comprehensive background has provided him with knowledge and experience on covering wide-ranging training topics, which include:
- Management and Leadership,
- Sales,
- Account Management,
- Health & Wellbeing,
- Conflict Management,
- Customer Experience,
- Telephone Skills,
- Business Coaching,
- Consultancy,
- Interim Management and more.
Karl is a DiSC psychometric practitioner.
If you would like to have an informal chat regarding you, or your business, please contact Karl directly on 07766 053306
Alternatively, you can email him at karl@krlconsulting.com
KRL Consulting
Email: info@krlconsulting.com
Website: www.krlconsulting.com
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