The end is nigh… or so it would seem! With so many know-it-alls promoting new secret techniques to improve each and every business on the planet, there’s hardly anything left to say.
The “new normal” that’s everything but normal seems to have hyped business owners and analysts but, in truth, nothing much has changed. Common people are still common people and businesses are still pursuing profits.
As simple as that.
That, however, doesn’t mean that policymakers and big sharks will shy away from multiplying their gains during the murky spins, meaning that businesses need to develop techniques to fend off disruptors.
Fortunately, some of them are rather logical and not overly complex, so let’s take a look at what can be done to make “uncertain times” somewhat more certain.
Change the Way You Hire
Obviously, the first thing to keep in mind is offering flexible work models and contract options to accommodate the rising body of remote workers, freelancers and digital nomads.
The latter category is particularly important to consider. Namely, more and more people are ditching 9-5 work in favor of the gig economy, flexibility and freedom.
Consequentially, more and more countries are offering a visa for digital nomads, hoping to prop up their faltering economies after the crises of the past three years or so.
That isn’t to say that all businesses should go remote. There is a subtle and efficient option called “hybrid work models” that can be applied to literally every business on the planet.
As a matter of fact, there are six different hybrid work models, meaning that every business should be able to tap into at least one.
Take a look at the options:
- Partially remote work, with flexible office space – no permanent offices; rented flex space used for periodic collaboration (but not connectivity)
- Almost entirely on premises – limited remote work, large office space the majority of managers and workers
- Partially remote work, multiple hubs – multiple offices with the workforce dispersed among them
- Partially remote work, large office space – the majority of managers and workers spend most, but not all, of their time at the office
- Almost entirely off premises – mostly remote work with no office space
- Multiple microhubs – management and employees are dispersed across small microhubs located in different cities (or countries, depending on the scope of your business operations)
These models can be complementary; you can use one to help you transition to the final goal, for example.
Change Who You Hire
Don’t take this advice at face value. Certainly, you shouldn’t give up on the job roles your business needs to operate smoothly.
Rather, consider hiring integrators to align everything and everyone.
The term “integrator” was coined by Gino Wickman in his best-selling business books Traction and Rocketfuel. You typically learn about integrators when implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) as a management practice for your company. “An Integrator is a person who is the tie-breaker for the leadership team, is the glue for the organization, holds everything together, beats the drum (provides cadence), is accountable for the P&L results, executes the business plan, holds the Leadership Team accountable, and is the steady force in the organization.” (EOS Worldwide).
Plus, every business implementing the EOS management system really needs an integrator.
Change How You Monitor Your Team
Monitoring can be rather tricky but, regardless, it can be simplified and optimized.
To begin with, deploy the latest tech. To stay up to date with current management trends, consider the following:
- IoT for asset management
- Cloud-based software for remote work
- Artificial intelligence for business automation
- Inventory management software for supply chains
In addition, add some simple hacks to make your employees’ everyday tasks easier, e.g., consider using a GPS time clock.
This is but the tip of the iceberg, so make sure to stay on top of the latest developments in order for your business to remain competitive.
Change Your Leadership Strategy
Lastly, develop a sustainable and consistent leadership development plan.
The finest of these are rotted in a team-first culture and focus on enhancing your employees’ potential. Simply put, a leadership development plan drafts the way from where your employees are presently and where they should eventually arrive.
Make sure to outline your goals and objectives and write down your team objectives. Finally, ensure that everyone is following through with the plan. It takes time, but it’s worth it!
Key Takeaways
Everything considered, uncertain times are best kept in check by making them more predictable. For businesses that are ready for any eventuality and for a motivated workforce, no obstacle should be too difficult.
To make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure your business is going in the right direction, stick to your leadership development plan, deploy the latest tech, hire integrators, and offer flexible and hybrid work models.
