Communication is a critical component of all businesses, especially during the unpredictable events of COVID-19. Whether it’s your Daily Huddle with team members or external communication with customers and vendors, effective communication is one of the foundations of successful businesses. So, it’s no surprise that there is a constant flood of new apps to improve your organization’s communication.
April 7, 2020
While off to a rocky start, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is officially open, and, not surprisingly, applications are overwhelming banks. Send your positive or negative experiences with the PPP program to rob@simons.coach.
April 3, 2020
Today is the first day for banks to accept applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a vital part of the CARES Act. While some banks are holding back from full participation, the stimulus program is an essential step towards keeping small businesses alive. Send me your experiences with the PPP program to rob@simons.coach.
UPDATE March 31, 2020: The U.S. Department of the Treasury released the official Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Application. It can be downloaded here from the Treasury website.
On Friday, President Trump signed the CARES Act, the largest stimulus package in the history of the U.S. All entrepreneurs and small business leaders should quickly determine how this package will impact their organization. At first glance, it seems like every small business should take advantage of the opportunity. Here are three resources to help you understand the CARES Act.
UPDATE April 7, 2020: The U.S. Department of the Treasury maintains a website with the latest Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Application, guidance, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
The CARES Act Stimulus bill was approved by the Senate and House today and is expected to be quickly signed by President Trump. Many of my clients are small businesses (<500 employees) that should consider using this stimulus to help weather these uncertain times. Here’s my first impression of how one portion of the bill – the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – could help a small business.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
We are experiencing a Black Swan event that is creating fear and uncertainty. Businesses must adapt quickly to survive. Fortunately, access to great ideas and actionable strategies are plentiful. To help you filter through the noise and see the important, below are the three things business leaders need to know today.
A biological clock inside us establishes a natural rhythm to life. The circadian rhythm repeats every 24 hours and influences our sleep, body temperature, and organ functions. Additionally, we adapt to the changes in our natural environment caused by the cycles of our planet. Humans understand and depend on rhythms.
High-functioning businesses also have a rhythm that aligns and synchronizes team members with their environment. To establish this rhythm, your organization needs a daily meeting to set a cadence similar to our body’s circadian rhythm. This critical meeting is called the Daily Huddle, and hundreds of thousands of organizations around the world conduct the meeting every day.
During these times of uncertainty and daily changes to our work environment, this meeting is even more critical, especially if your team has people working remotely. A traditional office environment has a built-in daily rhythm based on when team members arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon. The workday rhythm is natural to see, align, and utilize. But when team members work remotely, it’s easy to lose connection with the company pulse.
If you’re like the rest of the business world, overnight, you found your calendar filled with video conference calls. The nature of the COVID-19 crisis has many of us working from home. While the long-term impacts of the coronavirus are unknown, I’m confident that the increased usage of video conference tools will be with us for a long time.
Whether you’re hosting a video conference call or participating in one, these seven tips will help you have efficient and productive online sessions.
People have a love-hate relationship with meetings. On the positive side, we all know it’s essential to meet and share information, identify challenges, and brainstorm solutions. But on the flip side, most team members view meetings as a distraction from being able to get “real” work done.
Where’s the disconnect? We know we need communication, but nobody wants to meet. Maybe it’s because your meetings are ineffective and don’t satisfy the needs of your team. Here are five simple tools to improve any meeting.
Leaders define themselves in difficult times, and we are experiencing difficult times like no other. COVID-19 is a severe threat, and I support public officials who are taking the necessary steps to avoid a catastrophic loss of life. Unfortunately, that means business leaders must manage the impacts of social-distancing – a new concept that is negatively impacting almost all businesses.