Checklist: Five tips to increase business resilience

Staffing firm Robert Half offers five tips on how companies can increase their resilience:

Tip 1: Get an overview - What is essential for the company?

First, it is important for any company to gain an overview of what is needed to maintain work processes and continue to meet customer needs. The challenge is to take into account applicable regulations, such as current clearance rules, and still remain productive. For example, it makes sense to keep a list of which employee is in the office and when. Procuring the necessary hardware and software for home office solutions is also essential.

"Resilience projects should not be seen as an expensive add-on. They help keep companies functional during crises and are therefore an investment in future business success," says Zerrin Azeri, Director at Robert Half. "The measures taken should strengthen the company's 'immune system' in the long term and at the same time be useful during non-crisis periods. That can be digital meetings as well as decisions that maintain employees' mental health."

Tip 2: Respond quickly to current challenges

Working out perfect solutions takes a lot of time. The "trial and error method" is best suited for this. It makes it possible to implement decisions step by step, but quickly, and to adjust them if necessary. A roadmap is ideal for outlining possible options. It is worthwhile to record what has worked well and what might be a permanent solution. Regular feedback loops with both quantifiable results and qualitative input from different teams and management are also useful. This helps to better assess and optimize the impact of decisions.

Tip 3: Prepare for the future with the right IT infrastructure

In many companies, parts of the workforce are currently working back in the office in view of relaxed contact restrictions, while others are still in the home office. That's why it makes sense now to create a suitable IT infrastructure that employees can use reliably both from home and at work. Investments in forward-looking technology are already worthwhile - also with a view to the use of remote maintenance software and secure, cloud-based working.

Tip 4: Remain loyal to customers

In order not to jeopardize relationships with key stakeholders, clarity and reliability are important in times like these. "Coordinate with your customers and stay in touch on an ongoing basis. This will allow you to respond flexibly as needs change," advises Azeri. "But only promise what you can deliver to avoid friction in the relationship with the customer."

Tip 5: Show empathy

Employees are the greatest asset of any company. "Resilience also means promoting the resilience of employees. Managers in particular can influence how employees experience and endure stress. They should communicate changes in good time to prevent fears from arising. An appreciative and supportive approach strengthens team spirit," says Azeri. Managers should also respond flexibly to changes themselves and future-proof their decisions with a view to growth prospects.

Here is more information on how companies can strengthen their resilience.