10 tips for managing in a downturn

On Tuesday Robin Crumby of Melcrum hosted a fantastic half day round table event on managing a specialist information business in a downturn. There were lots of good contributions and anyone involved in the industry should try to come along to future events - including our upcoming full day E-marketing Conference.

At the meeting Robin highlighted 10 top tips for managing during a downturn. Most are common sense but are worth keeping in mind over the coming months:

1. Stay positive: lead by example, be upbeat, smile, celebrate small wins at every opportunity, get everyone to start a meeting by sharing a highlight each.
2. Recognition: reward staff with regular mentions and praise in meetings. 
3. Focus on the next week/month: focus teams on short term objectives that make a difference now (remind them often of how this links back to big picture strategy and goals). 
4. Communicate often: have a daily meeting to discuss each team member's priority for the day, results for the previous day, any blocks that are getting in the way.
5. Regular reporting: keep everyone informed of your sales results at least daily. 
6. Meetings: consolidate all unnecessary meetings and focus on one effective meeting using an experienced facilitator, an agenda circulated in advance, start on time, finish on time and circulate action points. 
7. One-on-ones: make sure all managers meet their reports once a month, review progress against objectives, listen and respond to their concerns. 
8. Work smarter: encourage individuals to work 'smarter not harder', focus on most profitable customers, good time management to concentrate on priorities and make sure they are delegating work to reports as often as possible. One person's chore is another's opportunity to impress. 
9. Process reviews: make enough time to review all processes to ensure no dead wood. No sacred cows. If something doesn't add value, cut it. 
10. Make work fun again: enlist the help of influential employees to organise nights out, run competitions, and celebrate everything. 

Good advice for everyone running a team in this environment.

Well done Robin for a great morning.

Comments

[Robin Crumby]

Thanks Rory. I thought it was a really interesting discussion and lots of good ideas and input from the group.

[Michelle]

Nice post. Hope this works for me.