How to Reassure Your Team when it Takes a Hit
How to Reassure Your Team when it Takes a Hit
Four tips for reinstilling confidence in your team.
If you have plans to grow your small business into a larger venture, it’s inevitable that you’ll hit a few bumps in the road along the way.
It could be the loss of a major client or supplier. Maybe a key employee departs the organization. Any deviation from your plan can not only affect your bottom line, but also shake the foundation of the business–namely, the confidence, engagement, and loyalty of your team.
Reassuring your team that a temporary setback isn’t going to affect your long-term success is crucial. Employees that are unsure of the company’s future may not stick around to see how it all shakes out. Suddenly, you’re facing a mass exodus and other destabilizing changes.
On the other hand, pretending that everything is fine and failing to adjust your outlook can also be dangerous. Employees want to see leadership, not posturing.
With that in mind, here are a few ways to reassure your team earnestly while adjusting your business to your new reality.
1. Be proactive in sharing the news.
When your business takes a hit, some employees may find out before others. Generally speaking, however, you should seek to share news of the change as soon as possible.
Write a company-wide email that announces the shift. You should share details on when this change will happen (if it hasn’t already), what this means for the business, and what you plan to do to address any expected consequences.
For example, if you lose a major client, detail the schedule for winding down the relationship. Note how much business you did with this client, and how you’ll redistribute members of your team to new projects in the short-term to make up for that business. Finally, outline any preliminary plans you have to replace the business lost.
