How to Run a Business During a Pandemic

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still” (Exodus 14:14).

BOLD WOMEN: PRESENCE AND PASSION AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

Catholic Women in Business’ Lenten Theme

On reflecting on and discussing Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, the Catholic Women in Business leadership team saw a common theme: women. In the New Testament, we read of bold women who encountered Jesus and were forever changed. These women boldly spoke to him, boldly loved him, and boldly took his message into their communities. This Lent, our writers will be exploring this theme in their articles. Share how you are carrying your cross boldly and passionately in our Facebook group!

The title of this article is a little misleading because … do any business owners really know what they’re doing right now? (If you do, please reach out, because I want to hear your secrets!) We’ve never lived through a pandemic, so to some degree, we’re all just taking it one day at a time and doing the best we can.

We’re all trying to find our footing in this new normal and figure out how we can best take care of ourselves and our families and keep our businesses going strong.

The Catholic Women in Business community offered some valuable insights into this topic recently. Their advice, along with my own experience running a business in this strange and stressful time, was the inspiration for this article. Here are a few suggestions to consider as we wade through these new waters, living and running our businesses during a global health crisis.

Take Care of Yourself and Your Family

First of all, prioritize. Obviously, your first priority is to ensure that you and your family are safe and healthy. Your business is not more important than your health and your family’s health, so if you need to adjust, slow down, press pause, or take a break in order to put the important things first, then do it.

Also, check on your friends and family, especially now that isolation and loneliness are starting to set in due to social distancing. Check in with your fellow business owners, and see how they’re doing. Ask if there’s anything they need to get through this difficult time, which brings me to my next point …

Focus on Serving First

Lots of women in the Catholic Women in Business community agree that now is a time to serve our customers and clients like never before. You have a unique gift as a business leader. How can you use that gift to serve others when they need it most?

Create a free download of an inspirational print. Provide additional access to resources your audience may find helpful during this time. In my own business, I’m offering free assistance with writing and editing messaging and content relating to COVID-19 to help business owners communicate changes in schedule, policy, and product availability to their customers and clients.

People will remember that you were there for them when they needed support or resources, and while it shouldn’t be your sole goal, those people may even end up being customers when times are better. 

At the same time, it’s legitimate to adjust your business model or core offerings to make revenue right now — after all, you have to ensure your business exists when this crisis is over, and that you’re able to provide for your family. Some businesses can pivot and adapt, going online or adjusting their offers to meet market demands. Consider whether yours is one of them.

Be Sensitive, Especially With Social Media

Some business owners will find their revenue streams largely uninterrupted. Others (e.g., the travel industry) will be hit hard. Be sensitive when it comes to selling, especially on social media. Reevaluate your content if you’ve scheduled it in advance. Expect to bring about the wrath of keyboard warriors pretty quickly if you have a perky post about spring break travel slip through.

“Normal” Can Be Reassuring

On the other hand, don’t feel like you have to shut down normal processes and talk about COVID-19 constantly. We know it’s happening. Many of us are growing tired of hearing about it. Sometimes, we just want to see, hear, and read about something else!

Encouragement, hope, and business as usual can go a long way in helping to reassure people. Gauge your audience and your field to figure out what they need at the moment. “Business as usual” can create a sense of normalcy in a time that feels anything but normal.

The Gift of Time

Lastly, we all seem to have more time these days. We literally don’t have anywhere to be except for home (or the grocery store). Use this time to work on the projects you set aside months ago. This can be a valuable time to prep new initiatives and business development projects you aren’t able to devote time and attention to during busier seasons.

Ultimately, all of these tips are just suggestions. Don’t feel like you have to work twice as hard because you’re marooned in your home for weeks on end. We’re living in stressful times, and rest is not only OK but beneficial and necessary for your work in the long run. Busier and better days are ahead. What we can focus on right now is serving our clients and doing the best we possibly can.

Sarah Coffey is a freelance writer, copywriter, and editor. In college, she converted to Catholicism, met her now-husband Jesse, and received a B.A. in History. In 2018 she took the entrepreneurial plunge and started a copywriting and copyediting business — Coffey Copy & Content, LLC — and hasn't looked back. She loves using her talents for writing and editing to help business owners, students, and writers convey their messages powerfully and cleanly. She is also currently working on a Master's in Sacred Theology through St. Joseph's College of Maine and writes on matters of faith, theology, business, and travel. You can read more of her writing here.