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| Prepare in advance for those days you may be away! |
People go through many different emotional states during each year. The emotions range from the excitement and
joy to the horror of losses like those seen in the Sandy storm or the killings
in Newtown, CT. These events affect the
desire and ability to maintain normal function of a business. During the great times, the business
activities are not dramatically affected.
It is during those horrid times that one may wish to retreat from
day-to-day activities and hide in a closet or worse.
The horrid events of life need not be as devastating as the
Newtown killings. People have situations
like deaths or sicknesses of family or friends.
Family breakups and arguments can contribute to the mood and desire to
maintain normal daily functions.
Personal medical issues weigh heavily on decision-making processes and commitments
to work. As sad as it may seem, this is
life and sometimes events are beyond our control.
Each entrepreneur has events and people they have a direct ability
to improve or change; i.e., their
direct circle of friends and situations where providing assistance is helpful. Then there are those events and people you
have less control over because they are out of your direct inner circle of
friends or daily events. All activities
have an impact on your mood and may alter your ability to carry out your daily
work requirements. It is during these
times, that having friends, family, and the community support mean the most. They can be a source of strength.
One cannot prepare for many negative events, and it seems that
they often they come in multiples. For
example, a family member in the hospital and two funerals in one week are
unusual, but it happens. The downside is
that you may lose your direction and forget where you were in your work once
you return. Perhaps, you are the leader
of the business and the team is lost while you are away.
There is really nothing to guide you on the emotional side or help
prepare for the negative events. You
might consider the following ideas as a means of keeping the business
functioning while you are recovering. They
all are advance planning and are good whether you have negative events or never
experience one.
To-Do
Lists: Keep a list of activities
that must be completed along with the dates required for completion. If you must be away for a while, the list
will help you understand what the work needs on your return.
Project
Planning: Develop project plans with timelines. The project plans allow the team to know
their responsibilities and may keep them functioning while you are away. Develop a reporting method that allows you to
track the progress of the team at regular intervals. The reporting method may be something you can
review while you are away.
Team
Leaders: Appoint team leaders and
provide them with clear objectives.
Empower the leaders to conduct the business as needed to accomplish the objectives. Develop a means of reporting that allows them
to keep you appraised even if you are not available for some period.
Second in
Command: Identify and train a second in command. A person you trust with all aspects of the
company business. Empower this person to
run the business in your absence.
Developing a reporting method, you find suitable so that you may monitor
activities if you are able.
You cannot prepare for all events, but you can prepare for your absence
from the business. You can also learn to
trust your employees and count on them to grow the business. The company, Cantor Fitzgerald L.P., lost 658
employees in the 9/11 attack on the One World Trade Center. This included
family and friends along with much of the business. The company found a means of rebuilding and assisting
the families of those lost. The
leadership and courage of those that remain after devastation is the only way we
can honor the memory of those lost.
These leaders through their guidance contribute to building a stronger
community.
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