The economy and your business are bound to experience fluctuations over time. How you manage your people through the highs and lows will make a massive difference to your long-term success.
When times are tough, good strategy, excellent communication, and focus on the wellbeing of your team are the keys to survival. Some of the key elements of successfully managing a team in a downturn are:
- Be transparent about business challenges. Your employees know when things are not running smoothly, they will appreciate and respect honesty.
- Keep them up to date. Have regular check-ins so that they understand that their work keeps things moving. This also allows them to voice any concerns and seek reassurance.
- Create a culture of openness. Allow your team to speak openly with you in a confidential setting.
Let’s explore more ways you can support your staff and help them keep your business moving out of a downturn.
1. Keeping your team engaged at work
During downturns, leaders might shield employees from bad news, which can create uncertainty and worry. It is common for priorities to shift away from the ones the business has during regular trade.
Making employee engagement a priority is essential to navigating this challenging era. Be upfront about what’s happening and explain how the business will transition from this period. Regular and informal check-ins with your team will help you understand their concerns and address any needs. Be sure to remain aware of your staff’s performance at team and individual levels so that you can spot the signs of disengagement. If you begin to notice productivity and quality of work on the decline, it may be a sign that it is time to re-engage.
People generally seek a sense of purpose in their work; if you can find opportunities for growth and development or tasks that make your team members’ roles more impactful, your struggling team members may quickly feel refreshed.
Fostering a strong work-life balance and promoting wellness initiatives can help employees recharge and stay motivated.
2. Keep your team uplifted and productive
Downturns often tighten resources, naturally leading to increased workloads. Knowing that an increased workload is only temporary can allow your staff to find the energy to power through a resource deficit. Creating a plan with your team members is vital to assure them that these large workloads will only be temporary and that this plan is measurable. Revisiting these plans regularly to track or adjust goals will ensure that nobody feels in the dark about their workload or expectations.
- Prioritise the essential work by identifying the projects that add the most value to the business and give your team a strong sense of purpose.
- Encourage and reward efficiency. If team members have put in extra time or effort to achieve a business goal, reward them with some time off. If you can’t afford a full day, allowing them to leave early or start later and get a sleep-in can be a thoughtful reward for hard work.
- Openly recognise even small contributions because it costs nothing to say ‘thank you’. Be sure to highlight team members’ everyday achievements in meetings and even leave them a note on their desk to show them that you noticed something great they did.
3. Manage time off for your staff
When resources are tight, it can feel daunting for a manager to consider staff taking time off work. However, people need their time off and are entitled to it, so creating heavy restrictions will inevitably backfire. Without regular, quality time off, your staff will quickly face burnout, as will you.
Be strategic by using an efficient staff holiday planner that allows requests, communication and approvals to flow through the same channels. Using a system that is available on desktop and mobile is essential so that it is available to staff 24/7. Your system should allow you to limit the number of staff members on leave at any time so that you are never too short on staff.
Business downturns don’t change the fact that people live complex lives, and offering flexibility can benefit everyone. Allowing staff to take unpaid leave can help keep costs down while still allowing staff to attend to personal matters.
If the downturn requires altering leave policies, be sure to communicate them clearly to each staff member. If you adopt a new system for managing leave, it is also important to give your team the required training to use it properly.
4. Create a culture of mental wellness
When times are uncertain, you can only do so much to reduce stress and anxiety. In addition to their increased workload, staff may feel stressed about the security of their position and what that means for their family and finances. Your business can support their physical and mental health by offering an employee assistance programme, which often includes counselling and mental health resources.
As mentioned earlier, frequent check-ins with your team and carefully managing performance can help you spot a staff member who needs help. Being approachable and allowing your staff members to have open and honest conversations without fear of mistreatment can go a long way toward their speedy recovery.
5. Retaining your staff and preparing for a bright future.
The sad reality of downturns is that losing staff is sometimes unavoidable. Whether they choose to move on or you find yourself letting team members go, there are ways to minimise this.
If valuable staff members may have a foot out the door, finding opportunities for further education or upskilling that keep their careers moving with you may be worthwhile, and you can offer study leave. If you believe business will bounce back, you want to ensure those people are still there.
In the short term, creative solutions may be required to save costs, such as reduced hours, role changes, or even offering unpaid leave. It is essential to always focus on the future and visualise your people in it. As business improves, you will be happy that you kept a positive but realistic outlook.
Here’s to a bright future ✨
Business downturns are stressful, but they’re made easier when you have a supportive workplace eager to see it through. During uncertain times, teamwork becomes vital. Prioritise employee engagement with clear communication, strategic planning, and balancing business needs with staff support to help your company thrive into the future.
Author
Che Thornbury
Ché manages our marketing, communications and partnerships. She helps people find Leave Dates and make sure it is right for them. Her favourite weekly task is sending thank you messages to customers who review us.
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