If there’s anything the pandemic has taught us, is that pivoting and adjusting when things go awry are not enough. We are now expected to anticipate change and be prepared to adapt in advance. In short, have plan B in place. If you run your business in 2022 the pre-pandemic way, things could get  overwhelming fast. Here are some tips on what you can you do today for when things are out of balance.

1. Adapt in advance

Cover your resources and prepare for your worst-case scenario. Ask yourself the hard question on whether you’re ready for a situation where things need to move quickly and efficiently. You might need to get yourself and your team ready by going through learning and leadership training. Act on preparing for plan B (or C!) in place.

Imagine this: You sell products online, sales is going well and the promise of your Easter special pre-orders are meant to be scheduled for delivery next week. And then Covid hits hard at your workplace.

What’s your plan B like at this stage? Do you have a list of contractors for the urgent gap filler role, or can the other team members take over in tandem of working on their role? If it’s the latter, the importance of training to handle the make-shift role, is imperative.

For every “what if” situation, you’re protecting your business from pending issues if you had planned out for this moment.

2. Centralise information structure

Whether it’s a list of stand-by contractors who you need to get in touch urgently or an employee’s contract, you should be able to easily locate them. A project management system that provides clear information across the board is imperative. It might be time to dust things off the shelves when it comes to re-organising files and folders.

Have a look at your budget and decide if you could invest in a project management system where things are well-connected, transparent, and easy to learn. Remember, there’s no point in acquiring a new system if it’s not easily adaptable for your team members.

It goes beyond an index of where information could be found, but also where back-ups are stored. This is where HR management could play a big role in getting your business ready for emergencies. The unexpected tends to blow up when you least expect it.

3. Be tech ready

If an employee can’t come into the office today because they’ve recently become a close contact, they should still be able to present their work efficiently at the office meeting — albeit remotely — simply because technology allows for it. Ideally, your business has remote working policy in place, that details what’s necessary and beneficial for both parties.

As you reimagine the post-pandemic workplace, pay attention to where things might still fall through the cracks, especially in tech. We’ve familiarised ourselves with multiple apps for online meetings and conferences, but things such as internet speed, online security and home office set up might be viewed as the responsibility of the employees. The reality is, not everyone is well-set-up in tech. For example, unreliable internet speed could be greatly improved by replacing a modem or tuning into a different channel. But some of your team members may need guidance on how to do it. Give your employees ample tech support, to do their work efficiently.

4. Anticipate plan B to take place

It’s probably best to assume that at any point, any time, there’s going to be someone who’s going down with an illness. With winter approaching, the likelihood of it occurring is even greater. A new strategy to adapt might be urgently needed and as a business leader, you’re being pulled in every direction that seems to need your attention now. Plan and process for contingency measures in every level can be overwhelming. There’s also the ever-changing landscape of compliance to keep track of.

Consider contracting external help such as an HR consultant. Shop around for someone who’s got the relevant experience to help you and your business. The advantage of contracting someone external might actually pan out better than managing things internally, thanks to the ability of looking at things with a fresh pair of eyes.

There are many options to prepare your business to be vigilant. If contingency plans are in place, it creates less anxiety as you’d know the steps to take.

Our team of HR consultants can help you understand the responsibilities and skills across your team to make plan B that much easier. HR can be painful. We do the heavy lifting, so you can focus on running the show. Get help now. Contact us today.