Q2 of 2021 – How to Plan the Unplannable

It is way, way too soon to bid goodbye to COVID-19. Chances are that it’s going to stay a part of our lives for a long time. However, we can definitely say that humanity is learning to live alongside it. It’s not just vaccination we’re talking about, though. We may not notice it in our daily routine, but a lot of that routine has changed, in an effort to adapt itself to this new reality.

One example of this is the way we’ve gotten used to a strange state of constant flexibility and dynamicity. With regulations and restrictions constantly changing on short notice for the past year or so, people have learned to quickly adapt to new circumstances. However, on a macro level, this is more complicated.

Take business strategies, for example. Long-term planning is inherent for success. But reality dictates otherwise. So, is it possible to make plans for your business in a time when planning almost seems like a foul world? Let’s try to look at some ways to turn this discord into a harmony that your business can march to.

Always have a plan B (and C)

The most obvious way to be ready for different scenarios is, well, to have a set of plans. Of course, you can’t be ready for every development, especially when nothing is considered truly unexpected. You can, however, prepare several modi operandi, each a response to a possible and probable scenario.

For example, you can build a schedule for your employees so they know when they are working from the office and when they are supposed to work from home. This schedule can have a few versions, according to different limitations on how many people can come to work, synchronized with restrictions. Just be sure that before you start making different plans, you analyze all of the possible scenarios you might have to respond to.

Let’s get digital

If there’s something the virus can’t prevent you from doing, it’s basically anything you do online. Therefore, the more things you plan on accomplishing through the world wide web, the better – and we’re talking about meetings, customer retention, sales, marketing, the whole lot. As the managing director at the well-known digital marketing brand Promo Leads, Samuel Adams, put it: “the shift to the online world had begun way before COVID-19. It was inevitable, and it makes so much sense because it saves a whole lot of time, money, and energy.”

Not everything can make the move to the virtual sphere, naturally, and some things are better left to a face-to-face meeting. But sometimes, let’s say, if your only options are having an important meeting on Zoom or postponing it by two weeks, then you might just want to go for the former. Anyway, in this situation, making several possible plans is also a good idea.

It’s wise to prioritize

This is something worth remembering even in regular times, let alone these days. You’re not going to accomplish everything you have planned. That’s why it’s very important to know what is more urgent, and what can wait. We advise you add a column to your ‘to do’ list, which will serve as an urgency meter or even include a date by which you aspire that the task is completed.

Keep in mind that the ability not to plan ahead too far is a key factor here. It is also wiser to under plan and be positively surprised than to over plan and fail to meet demands. Also, remember that you are not alone on this boat. Your employees/ clients/ superiors are in the same situation. It is understandable if your work pace is a bit slower than optimal if, for example, you are working from home and watching your kids at the same time because, well, school is also closed.

To be truly free

This may not be the best time to sign binding contracts with suppliers and service providers for years to come. Since budgets are also something you can’t really plan ahead, you shouldn’t commit financially right now. The ideal solution is to try and shift your needs to freelance workers as much as possible. They do not demand a commitment, and it’s also a chance for them to make some money, since these times are hard for them as well.

True, in the long run, hiring a freelancer costs more than negotiating contract terms. But for now, it’s much safer. “We at Promo Leads provide opportunities for freelance marketers to put their skills to work, and we’ve seen a dramatic rise in demand for our platform,” added Adams. “This means that there are plenty of freelancers out there, just waiting for your offer – and that you can also negotiate prices with them, but don’t be too harsh.”