Actionable Steps for Uncertain Times: IEC Protection during COVID
If you told me in 2000 that I’d never be able to meet someone at an airport gate or bring a water bottle through security, I would have thought you were nuts - but now it’s routine. Probably the same way I would have felt if you told me ten years later about what life would be like while parenting small children. Sleep deprivation is so normal for me now that I felt like I’d won the lottery yesterday when my three-year-old slept until 8:00 a.m.
As we all try to make meaning of the last several months, it’s only natural to think about what the new normal will be next year. What will be routine that would have sounded crazy six months ago?
There have been so many posts on list serves and social media groups with questions about the steps that other IECs are taking to adjust and evolve during this time. Some have resolved to become fully virtual and will never meet with students in person again (actually, many are going this route - I am not). Others are adjusting their hours to accommodate student schedules in this new environment. A few are even installing commercial-grade hand sanitizer stations in their offices.
It’s hard to know exactly what to do and how to make the best decisions during this time, because we are all in different circumstances. What works for some may not work for others. Even so, there are certain actionable steps that I think would be helpful for every one of you to take over the next week - if you haven’t yet - before things get crazy in August.
Here goes:
Update your contract. I had never heard the term “force majeure” in my life, but you better believe I know what it means now! I worked with my attorney to go through every line of my contract to make sure it covers issues that may arise in our post-COVID world. From the manner in which meetings will take place to what will happen if a student tests positive for the virus, it’s all in there now. And it’s on my new subscription site for you to download and use with your own clients!
Come up with an emergency plan. I am working on a more formal template that will hit my subscription site in September, but your plan definitely doesn’t have to be formal off the bat. Instead, make sure that at least 3-4 different people in your life could keep your business running smoothly if the worst happened. Consider including the following in your plan:
Names of IECs you trust who would be willing to step in to help your clients if needed in an emergency situation.
All login information and passwords. On my subscription site, I share templates for two separate documents we use in my office. One is for shared passwords that any staff member should know, and the other is for passwords that are not to be shared with any staff unless there is a specific reason (I.e. my email password).
Staff contact information - both work contact information and personal.
General need-to-know details to keep your office functioning. How do you run payroll, if you’re the one that runs it? Which utility bills need to be paid? What other obligations do you have?
Your intentions for your business if the worst happened. Do you have a succession plan? Would you want your next-of-kin to try to sell it or try to keep it moving? How would that work? What would their first steps need to be?
Perform a SWOT analysis. I know - sounds fancy, right? It’s not at all. You just have to think about the internal and external factors which could impact your business positively or negatively. Check out my free template and take a minute to reflect on these questions. If you go to File -> Download -> Microsoft Word, you can save a copy for yourself. Even if you can’t act on any of these immediately, at least you’ll have a better understanding of where you stand today.
Brainstorm different revenue streams. We’ve all seen many small businesses collapse over the last few months because of changes over which they had no control. With multiple streams of revenue, you have a level of protection that minimizes the likelihood of one crisis that could come along and shut things down. Even if one of your revenue streams is threatened, the rest may still be okay. Particularly given the changing educational landscape with students out of school, how can you make slight adjustments to your business model to generate different streams of revenue over the upcoming year? Now is the time to act, while parents are considering new ways to help minimize disruptions to their children’s education during the school year ahead.
Remember - you can’t just work in your business, you have to work on your business. A few hours set aside right now could end up paying off big time down the road!