When business is as usual/operating normally, it is pretty straight forward for business leaders & C-suites. Orders are coming, budgets are being utilized & plans implemented effectively. There are no trade offs or tricky decisions to be made. However the situation takes a sea-turn in cases of crisis such as those currently experienced by business houses globally. It is during these times that corporate leaders have to prove their mettle. Employees are clueless & look at leaders for directions. Sometimes, problems such as those created by COVID-10 Pandemic are unexpected & it ultimately falls upon wisdom & fine sense of judgement of business leaders to charter an action plan to come out of such a difficult tide.
As corporate leaders & C-suites, your communication strategy should be designed in a way, where message for both workforce & customers should clearly demonstrate that the organisation has a clearly chalked out plan to deal with crisis( COVID-19 Pandemic). This may involve alignment of workforce deployment strategy- work from home/ remote working, adjustments in supply chain strategy( maintain production/inventory) & working capital management strategy (dealing with vendors to bring flexibility in repayment timing). Both workforce & customers would need reassurance that the organisation is having financial stability /cushion to tide over an economic downturn. Here strategic communication strategy & messaging would play a vital role to maintain panic & communication risk at bay. Silence & passion communication would be dangerous in such a situation of Pandemic.
It is the accountability of leaders to analyse the tasks which are required for business continuity & prioritize them. To ensure essential activities are performed, leaders should incorporate a learning & development strategy where employees should be trained in different disciplines. In this way, organisations can cover up the potential delay of work in case some employees are sick/infected by COVID-19. It really helps to have this thing ready beforehand. However, it helps if your messaging/communication is clear besides making the amendments in employee development/workforce related policies.
A good & competent leader should patiently listen to concerns of employees & answer their questions. Mass meeting or addressing a large group of employees would not be a good strategy. Rather, an online gathering/webinar would be a better way to communicate your message.
Leaders should communicate a clear message, be patient & transparent & avoid sugar coating. Everyone knows that it is a crisis, so employees will not be reassured by an executive accepting the situation or saying that wishing & hoping that problem goes away. Besides, sometimes leaders’ decisions have to be painful such as they taking pay cuts or even forgoing salaries during the period of Pandemic.
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