Ways To Unify Your Workforce In Times Of Crisis

Dealing with a crisis is something that almost all businesses will have to deal with at one time or another. It could be a data breach, a poor product release or even a global pandemic like COVID-19. Having a unified team during a crisis is crucial to getting out of it successfully.

The importance of this cannot be overstated. Having a plan in place and great people to execute it can help ensure that everyone stays on the same page, has a common goal, and is willing to put in the work to help the company get through.

But what methods can be used to unify your workforce and ensure the crisis is handled successfully? Here are several great ways to unify your workforce in difficult times.

Show Them You’ve Got Their Back

While a crisis is tough for your company, it is also hard for your employees. If you want them to stick with you and help you through the problem, you need to be there for them as well. If you can show your team you have their back, they will be more willing to go to step up for your company when you need it most.

For example, Costex kept its team together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a remote working environment that boosted productivity, while also providing new training, skills and learning programs. This is only one example of the many ways you can show your team that you support them during a crisis.

Employees are loyal to companies that support them, empower them and listen to them. Even if you aren’t going through a crisis, engaging with your employees and appreciating their value are great ways to ensure they are in your corner if something goes wrong.

Keep Them Informed With Great Communication

While communication in business is always important, this is especially true during times of crisis. The last thing you want to do is keep everyone in the dark about what is happening and what they need to do. If you do this, it will only drive your team apart and leave them to come up with their own conclusions about what is going on.

Once the crisis has begun, no matter what it is, be sure to provide your team with frequent updates. Let them know what has happened, what you need from them, what they should do and what they can expect from you. Of course, communication is a two-way street, so be sure to take questions and encourage open lines of communication between everyone.

Find Common Ground And Shared Values

In no business is everyone going to agree on everything. But during a crisis, you need everyone to at least be on the same page. A collaborative workforce is crucial to overcoming crises and staying together. No matter the beliefs or political views of individual people, there are likely some things they can connect on.

Try and identify some shared values to bring everyone together. This could be their love of the environment, their passion for your company’s mission, their willingness to help others or anything in between. If you can get everyone on the same page and use these shared values to bring them together during times of need, it can have great results.

Trying to navigate a crisis with infighting and disagreements on how to handle the situation can be very frustrating and lead to stagnation, which is never a good thing.

Remaining Unified In Difficult Times

Whether it is a product failure, a data breach or even a pandemic, your business will certainly have to wade through a crisis or two during its lifetime. Keeping your team unified and on the same page by following these important tips is crucial to getting through to the other side of the crisis in one piece.