Independent Bank is proud to sponsor the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Small Business Council. We love the new online format for the “Lunch in the Know” series, keeping small businesses engaged and bringing them timely and relevant information. Judy Bell with Judy Bell Consulting and Clark Butcher with Victory Bicycle Studio were the panelists for the most recent in the series: “Taking Care of Your Teammates.” Here we recap our Top Takeaways:
Visiting Virtually
Everyone agrees that it is important to have regular check-ins with your workforce, especially when some or all of them are now working remotely. But how to navigate filling the work-socialization void that now exists? Many companies are hosting virtual happy hours, but that doesn’t always fit into a company’s culture or it might end up isolating less outgoing employees even more. Clark suggests re-branding the “Happy Hour” to make it more accommodating and welcoming to all. Come up with a new name, and make sure you have a plan that allows for everyone to participate. Judy suggests having everyone come prepared to answer a question like “What is the first restaurant you’ll want to visit?” or “Who is the first person you’ll want to hug?” Just like any other get-together, a good icebreaker is key to getting the conversation started.
Be Neighborly
Clark makes the point that your customers don’t want you to sell to them right now; they want you to relate to them. Now is a great time to re-introduce them to your team on a much more personal level than they may be used to. Take the time to talk to your employees and learn their hobbies and interests outside of work. Share this information with your customers via newsletters or social media. Your customers will enjoy it, and your employees will love seeing their names in lights! Judy also points out that companies should find a way to show their appreciation for their employees’ herculean efforts. Consider surprising them with yard signs expressing your appreciation or gifts left in their mailboxes.
Too Much Time or Not Enough?
Depending on your industry, your employees may be working to the bone or finding themselves shuffling papers to stay busy. If it’s the latter, now could be a great time to work in some skills training that previously always got bumped for more pressing issues. You might have specific systems training employees could review, or there are tons of online resources for virtually any professional skill. But if the papers really do need to get shuffled, try making the busy work more engaging to keep employee morale up. If, however, you and your team are on putting in 18-hour days, remember that even the most dedicated employee needs a break and time to recharge. For that matter, so do you, so make time and space for your own selfcare. Just like on an airplane: you’ve got to put your oxygen mask on before helping others!
Thank you to Judy Bell and Clark Butcher for sharing their insights with us! We’d also like to thank our fellow sponsors Southland Casino Racing and Baptist Memorial Health Care as well as Waddell and Associates for making the Zoom meeting possible. If you missed the webinar or would like to see it again, a recorded version can be accessed on the Greater Memphis Chamber website.
