Since the COVID-19 pandemic began many businesses have been in limbo with a combination of on-site, remote and even hybrid employees. They’ve desperately patched together solutions that are good enough but really won’t hold up long-term. Can your business relate?
While we’re not out of the woods yet, one thing is clear: businesses need to learn how to manage both in-office and remote workers (as well as those who do both) for the long haul while also maintaining efficiency and productivity.
Building a Business Continuity Plan in 4 Easy Steps
Having a business continuity plan can ensure your organization isn’t scrambling the next time things shift (and you can be sure they will).
Step 1: Evaluate What Has (and Hasn’t) Worked
In all the bumbling around to shift to a remote workforce, you’ve probably landed on some happy accidents. Maybe your team has been cohesive in collaborating through an internal messaging tool. Plan to incorporate more of that in your business continuity planning for the long-term.
You’ve likely also had some fumbles. While much of what you’ve done up until now has been trial and error, now is the time to shed any practices or tools that aren’t serving your team’s productivity. Explore other, better options.
Now is the time to focus on leaner operations, workforce planning and culture shifts, and these likely won’t look like anything you’ve seen before in your organization. Many companies are exploring the concept of a hybrid worker, one who works remotely but comes to the office as needed. This may be a good in-between for your organization.
Step 2: Develop Your Business Continuity Plan
If there’s one constant, it’s change. Having a business continuity plan gives you a path for where you need to go from here. Your business technologies going forward need to support the current and long-term needs of hybrid workers as well as those working solely remotely. Those are the solutions that will succeed.
While it’s important to look at protecting your systems, don’t overlook the human element. Many workers were adrift when the quarantine hit because they had no experience using tools like video chat, and productivity dropped as a result. Make sure to build in training and support so all employees are empowered to give 100%, no matter where they are working.
Step 3: Be Flexible
Managing remote workers is something many leaders had no experience in until this year. They have had to roll with the punches and learn along the way. Work environments too are progressing to support the varied needs of workforces, and flexibility is key in providing the best work-life balance for employees.
Realize that what worked last month may not be the best course of action moving forward. Have a plan, certainly, but be willing to adapt as needed.
Step 4: Use Unified Communications to Bring It All Together
Now that you’ve looked at the best tools and practices for your business continuity plan, you need a unified communications system that efficiently connects your whole team, wherever they are at any given time.
Not only do unified communications streamline how your employees interact with one another and with customers, but they also ensure security. Integrating communication tools with heavy security protection means the data your organization juggles daily is safe.
Small Changes Mean Lasting Results
Some of the smoke has cleared around our current healthcare pandemic, and now is the time to take small steps like the ones above to ensure that your organization is set up for long-term success.
Call 630-706-8222, email or connect with Gregg Communications today to start building your business continuity plan and improve your organization’s long-term productivity.