Disruption in the processes of businesses in the UAE and across the globe is now the new normal. There is so much uncertainty and the world economy now faces strong headwinds which are already disrupting lives.
For small businesses in the country, loss of productivity results to devastation. However, it’s hard to avoid an unexpected disruption of business completely. In order to help your business stay on the right track, we will list down the top strategies that are simple and effective for ensuring business continuity, most especially for businesses in UAE.
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Establish a Solid Infrastructure
Infrastructure is always one of the first things managers and leaders have to address in getting staff ready. For hard infrastructure, when remote working has already been implemented, thorough and equitable distribution of work would prove to be crucial. Staff members with access to smart phones, PCs and laptops shouldn’t be overburdened with work. It would be unfair when those who don’t are not given any tasks. Employees with laptops should also be capable of dialing into the business easily.
If remote working hasn’t been established yet, the business has to ensure it provides functional devices and laptops to those who don’t already have their own.
Establish Effective Communication Channels
The key in achieving success for a business while working remotely is effective communication. This can be internal and external. For internal communication, communication can be a critical factor in the determination of success for a remote team. Information isn’t dispersed as it used to, which means there will be a lot of confusion amongst team members, most especially about collaboration and accountability. It is, therefore, crucial that there is effective communication between the team members. This is absolutely necessary in fostering effective coordination and achieving desired results. The following are tips on overcoming barriers for internal communication in a remote team:
- Properly plan and effectively communicate the team’s workflow – the leaders are to flan the team’s workflow in advance. Then, the same is communicated onto all team members in a manner that is time-bound. A manager has to priority the project(s) which require a more urgent delivery.
- Updates on progress – activities are to be promptly followed up by the team leader. A manager has to follow up regularly in order to make sure there is a timely completion of not only the critical but also minor tasks.
- Perform periodic meetings – a manager has to interact with all the team members regularly. It helps staff members in connecting with the business and remain highly motivated in contributing towards the attainment of the organization’s goals. In addition, it can also give a platform for team members and the manager in address issues if there are any not only regarding work but also in the personal front. A manager has to always communicate what is happening to a business when employees are working remotely as they can feel like they have been extracted from a mothership. Employees always wonder what is happening with their employer, their clients, and well as the company’s objectives. This is why communication always proves to be vital.
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As for external communication, what is a small business working for even when there is a crisis? The answer is their clients! A small business will be committing the biggest blunder when it’s unable to deploy an effective chain of external communication. There are actually two kinds of parties that will benefit from effective external communication:
- Vendors – in our reality today, no business is working in isolation. Businesses, regardless of the size, are dependent on other businesses and vendors for their supply of products or services, depending on the business’ nature. A business has to maintain a smooth and uninterrupted flow of data with vendors as it can ensure final output is delivered to clients as per timelines that were mutually agreed by the parties. A business has to communicated the requirements to vendors in advance as it provides suppliers time in conducting operations to fulfill the business’ needs.
- Clients – with the global pandemic that has affected the lines of billions of people across the globe, physical interactions have decreased significantly. Businesses are faced with the question – what is a way to have conversations and business calls which are as productive and effective as meeting face-to-face? A business today now has to tap into meeting assistance or video calling tools. There’s a significant rise in virtual client engagements and sales calls. Now is the perfect time for a business to utilize visual media in staying connected with all of its clients.
It’s a time for small businesses to start experimenting and adapting to virtual work. Although this does not have to be adopted permanently, it can help small businesses in UAE or anywhere in the globe survive and thrive. If you want to know anything that is related in establishing and running a business in the region, call us here in FAR Consulting Middle East.
