Business Right Now: 3 Tips

Not to state the obvious, but the last few months have been like none other. I can’t remember the last time I heard someone tell me, “everything is fantastic!” Work and life are demanding higher levels of energy, kindness, and compassion.  

In late March and April, my business activities were limited to serving my clients. It felt insensitive to attempt business development of any sort. In fact, it felt so wrong that when a vendor reached out to me, I replied to him and told him so (actually, I told him that cold calling at the time would likely do more harm than good, so I was kind about it).

Now, more than 100 days have passed. We will be in this place for a while, and business has settled into a new rhythm. We can’t just make soup and watch Netflix and play board games for the foreseeable future. 

Yet, conducting business now requires a heightened level of care and sensitivity. These are my guiding principles in these times:

With each interaction, I express wishes for good health and ask how he/she is faring. I acknowledge that everything is not "normal" before jumping into the business discussion.

I listen. Each individual is in a different place right now. I attempt to meet people where they are and make sure that my interactions make the day brighter, whether it is the right time to talk about business or not.

Finally, I recognize that it may not be time to do business. Regardless of the method of contact, I give the person space to tell me, “not now.” I might say, “Is this a good time to engage, or should I circle back with you in a few months?”

These principles are similar in that they focus on relating to others on a human level. It might be because we are all a bit more vulnerable, but it feels like the right thing to do. If we can continue to connect in this manner over time, maybe in one small way, 2020 will have made us better.