As the year 2020 is going to end, most of the businesses have started to plan for 2021 already. While no one is sure what the coming year is going to look like, most of the industry experts agree that the COVID 19 will continue to affect the lives of the common people and businesses in a significant manner.

However, the good news is, the strongest and the well-managed businesses will continue to sustain adapting themselves to the changing market conditions and create success.

Jeff Bevis, who is an accredited Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) from the International Franchise Association, states that by looking at your business with a critical eye is important to get it industry ready for 2021. Moreover, evaluating the performance objectively and honestly keeping your team in the loop will help you to ensure that you are on the right track and all ready for 2021.

Bevis suggests five ways to prepare your business for success in the year 2021

Evaluate your Business through SWOT Analysis   

Some of the top companies all over the globe have been using this method to know insights about their business. The approach is very basic but highly useful in developing a business plan. No matter which tool the business uses, it is important to acknowledge all the details and develop an efficient business plan to take further actions.

Include People Across All Verticals

It is advised to take feedbacks and inputs from people who work at all the levels of your organization. They will help you to understand all the challenges that they are facing while fulfilling their job responsibilities. Insights from the entire team will help to make wise decisions and implement a business plan for the coming year.

Share Your Business Timeline With your Team

Success needs everyone’s active contribution. To be successful, everyone needs to be on the same page. When a business is planning to introduce new processes, they take time to be implemented and adapted. In such cases, if everyone in the team knows the timeline, the processes are assumed to be more successful. The team must know that their feedback and ideas are highly valued. The business strategy meetings conducted at the end of each year, gathering the key takeaways will help to develop a final business plan for 2021.

Do Not Forget the COVID 19 Scenario

COVID is not going to end in the year 2021. At least in the first quarter of the year. Do not forget to include the health and safety precautions for the next year. The plan might need to include accommodations for vaccination and other health-related considerations to make it more successful.

Track the Metrics and Set Some Realistic Goals

Measuring the outcomes of the goals is highly important as the best plans do not mean much without a way to measure their outcomes. Reaching for new success is great, it is also important, at the same time that your senior leaders are realistic in setting milestones that are easily and readily achievable in the new business plan. Setting the goals that are too far can reduce morale and ultimately lead to a complete failure.

It is important to carefully map your performance with your future goals at a regular interval. Celebrate every little success rather than waiting for the end of the year to praise your hard work and dedication. It is also important to let the entire team know that their contribution was important to meet the small and big milestones that were set for the business.

Source  – Forbes