Leading Through Adversity

I’m Tom Beeles, President and CEO of Allied Business Solutions. These are trying times for businesses in every industry. As we all adapt to our new normal, companies are working hard to redefine how to do business.

Here at Allied, we’re really working hard to stick to the basics. We’re trying to make work fun, we’re holding our people accountable, and we’re making sure that our team has the tools they need to get the job done.

Here are some of my tips to help you keep your team positive, productive and engaged!

Laughter Helps!

In these challenging times, taking a more lighthearted approach can make those 7:30 a.m. Monday morning video conferences a little more bearable. If you can make it a little bit fun, and make people laugh, it’s a great start to the week! Plus, it helps to keep your team engaged and positive.

Create New Policies to Hold People Accountable

Like many companies, we’re dealing with 80 to 90 percent of our workforce working remotely. This crisis has given us all the chance to rewrite rules on accountability – it’s a one-time opportunity to set new expectations. It can be as simple as having managers give a recap at the end of the day. Where are we? What are our metrics? If you didn’t have this level of accountability before the crisis, now is the time to put new policies in place.

Provide the Right Tools to Get the Job Done

Having the right tools is a key element to remaining engaged. Are your team members working from a laptop at the kitchen table? How productive is that when they’ve been using two or three monitors at work, with a faster computer? Make sure they have the tools they need at home, whether it’s a desktop with two monitors, great bandwidth and video. This is a critical element for getting the job done!

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing challenges to businesses that we’ve never had to face before! But it’s also bringing a once in a lifetime opportunity for change. Taking a leadership position during adversity can help you to keep your ship sailing true through the storm. Take this time to educate yourself and work towards your goals. Keep your team engaged, upbeat and productive and keep the lines of communication open – and remember we’re all in this together!