Planning for a New “Back to Normal” Year

For many businesses, the start of 2022 is looking very promising. With COVID-19 cases relatively low, high vaccination rates, re-opening of industries, and overall optimism increasing, there’s finally something to look forward to. If you’re already in the midst of planning for the new year, or you haven’t started yet, there are some important things you need to consider. Keep in mind that although things are going back to “normal”, “normal” will actually look quite different than what it did prior to the pandemic.

As you plan your business for 2022, I encourage you to take the following topics into consideration:

Re-evaluate your policies

If you haven’t taken a look at your company policies in a while, now would be a good time to do so. I recommend taking a look at both your HR policies and customer-related policies. In addition to making changes related to health and safety regarding COVID-19, consider this: What will you do to make your organization a more attractive place to work? Competition is at an all-time high, and as I’ll explain in further detail below, organizations need to embrace new and changing mindsets in the workforce. Before making any changes to your policies, I encourage you to conduct employee and customer feedback to help shape your policies.

Invest in your employees

Now more than ever, your employees are the lifeblood of your organization. In order to retain and attract top talent, employers need to provide their employees with the flexibility and accommodations they seek. In addition to traditional perks such as raises and bonuses, many companies are now offering flexible working hours and arrangements, increased or unlimited vacation, and professional development opportunities. While you may not be able to offer all of these perks, I encourage you to offer what is most reasonable given your business needs

Be bold

At the onset and height of the pandemic, most businesses were simply trying to survive. As we navigate toward the finish line, I encourage you to enter into a growth mindset again. To help you with your 2022 projections, take a look at your pre-pandemic numbers. Many businesses are using these numbers as a starting point as they plan for a more than likely “normal” 2022.

Additionally, given the current global supply chain issues, I recommend diversifying your vendors and suppliers and/or suite of products and services to accommodate for any delays that could impact your business. You may also want to invest in research and development to bring new products or services to market and carve a successful path for your business in the years to come.

If you want to make a strong comeback next year, consider taking advantage of everything The Alternative Board has to offer, including one-on-one business coaching sessions and peer advisory boards. Contact us today to help you plan for a successful 2022!

Written by Phil Spensieri
Phil Spensieri is a TAB Facilitator in the York Region of Ontario, Canada.