Beating Your Achilles Heal – 7 Strategies For Running Your Business When You’re Leg’s in Plaster!

 Suzanne Bolwell-Davies may never have been a good enough tennis player to compete at Wimbledon but she was certainly totally committed to the cross court forehand on her 40 love up serve when she felt a pop and her legs gave way.  It was her Achilles heal in life literally! So if like Suzanne, you are a very active business owner and mum;  finding yourself in hospital with your leg in plaster from the knee downwards,  facing month’s of rehabilitation on crutches.  You may feel that the bottom has fallen out of your world.  However,  you may find the following points reassuring:

1.         Business tasks and duties

Arrange a business meeting and sit down with your business partner/key business stakeholders and discuss your:

• The Company’s key business priorities 
• Identify the key aspects of your role  
• Identify what you can successfully complete due to your incapacity   (be honest with yourself, if you over promise and you are not up to it due to your health then this may impact on your recovery).
• Work out what can be delegated to other members of your team.  If you don’t have a team is there anyone who can help you out in the short term i.e. Virtual PA, project worker, family?
•  Work out what tasks or duties you can take from your business partner/team in return.

• At every stage of your rehabilitation review your work programme.  Reallocate work or take on additional tasks as appropriate.

 2.         Client contact

If your business requires regular face to face contact then speak to your clients and be honest.  Every business has to cope with adversity at some stage in its life and business owners will totally understand. They will respect you and are more likely to retain your services if you are honest about your situation than if you struggle on and not providing the service that is required.  Discuss with your client how you can successfully support their business, always have some strategies in place, email, phone, alternative contact, but don’t dictate to the client; consult with them so that they buy into the solution. 

 3.         Rearrange your working space

Does your office work for you with your current incapacity?  Can you easily get around your work space and have easy access to key information, documents, stationary and equipment.  If it’s not working either ask for help from your family or employ a professional organiser to help you so that you get it done once and for all.

 4.        E-networking and online business

If you have a website, spend valuable time looking at your site and assessing whether it meets your clients needs. Have a look at your competitor’s sites and just generally review sites from other professions to give you ideas and inspiration.  Embrace social media, this will help with your google rating, join ecademy, twitter, LinkedIn, business facebook site, plaxo, digg, delicious, stumbledupon to name a few, forums and blogs. Use Skype to contact them or your clients by phone to keep the cost down. Share your knowledge, skills and information; your new networkers will be equally generous.  This will open a whole new world of opportunities and may take your business into a new and exciting direction.

 5.        Precious thinking time

Just because you are unable to complete your normal business tasks doesn’t mean to say that you can’t make a valuable contribution to your business. If there are times in the day you have to sit down and literally put your feet up, do it and use your resting time to think, read and let your creative right side of the brain take you to new exciting possibilities and opportunities. 

 6.        Graciously accept support

Graciously accept support from family, friends and neighbours to pick up drop off kids, shopping, hanging out washing, dog walking etc. People are more than happy to help out and you can always repay the favour at a later date!

 7.        Maintain a good sense of humour and have fun

Even though you may be in pain and are totally frustrated with your situation try and maintain a good sense of humour and have fun with your business.  It is another day in our life and it’s only temporary so enjoy every moment.  You will also find that you will consciously take a closer look and appreciate your world around you, your home, garden and surroundings.  In business you rarely have the opportunity to reflect and it’s so important at times to stop, take a look around, and enjoy your personal business journey.

Suzanne Bolwell-Davies is a Director of Human Resources Consultancy Company – Flexible HR Ltd.  Amongst many aspects of Human Resources she specialises in Training and Development, TUPE, Reorganisation and Redundancy and Outplacement.  To find out more about Flexible HR Ltd’s services contact info@flexiblehrltd.co.uk or visit the website on www.flexiblehrltd.co.uk