10 + 1 Tips to Prepare for Success in 2021
With the challenges of the pandemic most businesses at some stage have had to adjust to keep trading. No one really knows what 2021 will look like, but most experts agree that COVID-19 will continue to affect our lives. Adaptable and well-managed businesses will need to be flexible and adapt to be successful and grow
Here are 10 +1 ways to help you and your business prepare for a successful new year:
- Conduct a SWOT analysis – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
A SWOT analysis is a very useful tool when developing a business plan or strategy. It only works if you research and are honest about your findings. Most importantly a plan is wasted unless applying it with deadlines set in an action plan to
your business or role.
- Get input from your management team and staff
Include those that know how your business is being run from all levels. This will also give you buy-in from your team when it is time to prepare and implement your action plan.
- Share your strategy and action plan to your team.
A team only works when everyone knows the game plan. Involve your team and value their feedback and ideas. When creating the final plan for 2021, make sure the leadership team is fully on board and involved with deadlines and implementation strategies.
- Include various COVID-19 scenarios in your 2021 plan.
Make COVID-19 an integral part of any business preparations. This includes pandemic considerations like OHS, travel, HR and other key areas that will affect your staff, clients and business.
- Set realistic goals and track performance.If it can’t be measured, it can’t be monitored. Set realistic goals that are not too far out of reach so that can be achieved and provide a morale boost. Chart your actual performance vs. the plan’s goals at regular intervals (weekly or monthly) and celebrate every success!
- Don’t be afraid to try something new
Through necessity comes progress! Adapting to changes has forced people and companies out of their comfort zone. This resulted in more creative and inventive business strategies.
Keep exploring new ideas, trying new things, and innovating creative ways that you can do business.
- Stay in touch and top of mind
Online marketing tools give you the ability to stay in touch and top of mind.
When the pandemic hit, everything changed. Communicating online became more important than ever before.
- Do more business online
2020 brought many challenges that forced us all to think differently about how we live, interact, and do business. Getting your business online will drive people to your website to start generating revenue. The use of other channels like email and social media to connect with your existing customers will help drive repeat business and gain new customers.
- Collect and act on customer data
Customer data plays a key role in your success. As you’ve likely heard the phrase, “the money is in the list,” Being isolated from your customer especially while in lockdown showed the importance of this. Collecting emails, understanding interests, demographics, and past behaviours through surveys or analytics allows you to dig deeper into who your customer is and what they want.
- Prepare for uncertainty
Now is the time to assess, reorganise, re-prioritise and re-imagine critical business infrastructure, crisis plans, and resources to ensure you’re set up for success, whatever comes next.
10+1. Plan to stay in the game
2020 has seen a shocking number of businesses closing shop, significantly reducing staff, or experiencing overwhelming losses. Thinking creatively to stay relevant and offer services and products that people need for this new way of life will keep you ahead and power through for a successful 2021.
These top business tips are only a guide to help Australian small business overcome the challenges of necessary change. Our expertise is in auto electrical, air-conditioning and filtration but we adapt, grow and build based on the tips above. Lyons is dedicated to keep mining, construction and transport industries profitable and productive by giving you the best advice in Air-conditioning and filtration.
For more information on how Lyons can help your business, contact the experts at Lyons Air-Conditioning and Filtration Services on (08) 9259 7777 or email enquiries@lyons.com.au
