For forward-thinking organizations, periods of dramatic change and upheaval are neither good nor bad – they’re simply opportunities where value can be found by those who are poised to make the most of dynamic moments.
To shed a bit more light on the subject, Jennifer Kraszewski, Paycom’s vice president of HR, and Sam Norman, executive vice president of sales at Paycom, joined episode 81 of the HR Break Room® podcast. Here’s a taste of the conversation.
Create continuity plans when you don’t need them
Having a continuity plan may not seem essential during nonturbulent periods, which is precisely why every organization should have one ready in case the need for it arises. In periods of sudden disruption, continuity plans will be where your organization will look for guidance, confidence and resolve.
But having a continuity strategy, as useful as it may be, isn’t going to be enough. You’ll also want to revisit it regularly so it can be tweaked to reflect the current state of the organization and its leaders.
Overcommunication is a potent antidote
Communication builds trust inside the organization, and your staff radiates that confidence to your customers, prospective clients and recruits. Your employees need to understand they’re supported by leadership, and the easiest way to do that is to foster a transparent flow of information about the state of the environment and the company’s place (and, by extension, their place) within it.
Communicating with your employees about the plan to deal with business disruption and the tools they have to deal with the situation is an excellent way to keep your staff engaged and build trust in their employer. Don’t worry if the situation changes rapidly – your staff will help you adapt if they feel that you’re being honest and timely when you communicate with them.
Agile adaptability is a trickle-down trait
The ability to respond to change begins as an attitude at the executive level, but it can be translated into concrete principles and systems as it trickles down from the boardroom to the mailroom. Many 21st-century success stories involve leaders who were adamant about finding value in adverse situations.
Likewise, having the processes in place to give your organization the ability to quickly adapt and scale is going to make it easier to withstand periods of disruption. Having access to robust technology tools and putting them to their greatest use helps to increase efficiency while demonstrating to your staff that you’re engaged in a strategy where every part of the organization moves forward.
Are you interested in having a deeper understanding of how to cope with dramatic changes and periods of disruption? For more insights and a further discussion of these concepts, listen to episode 81 of HR Break Room.