Navigating the unpredictable “seasons” of a small business isn’t just about the time of year. It’s about facing those internal and external shifts that suddenly test our resilience, adaptability and occasionally, our sanity. Just like that unexpected and disappointing return to winter galoshes after weeks of short sleeves, these seasons can catch us off guard, challenging our readiness and resolve on top of the usual business day-to-day drama.
These periods often arrive without warning (think back to the pandemic), pushing us into anxiety -producing situations. Whether due to the departure of a key team member, personal health challenges, simple burnout or family matters, we find ourselves at a crossroads: adapt or become overwhelmed.
I’ve recently navigated through a storm of these challenges myselfa key manager taking maternity leave, my spouse considering a job change, a death in my family, and a desire to slow down a little! If not prepared, simply one of these events can short circuit your business to a point you cannot recover.
Weathering the seasons: Here is what I am doing
Fostering Team Ownership : These uncertain times can reveal your team’s hidden strengths. It’s a chance to reinforce the idea that people thrive when they’re clear on their role, feel empowered, and aim for mastery. Assigning dedicated ownership and decision empowerment not only helps navigate the immediate hurdles when you find yourself in a sudden predicament but builds a resilient and dedicated team. Invaluable.
Tip : Empower team members as “boss” of their domains, making them responsible for outcomesand letting them enjoy the rewards. This really means giving them a say in how their area is run, set up and funded.
Protecting energy output : The anxiety of change can be exhausting. For those in creative or direct consumer businesses like retail and design, protecting your energy is vital to recharging. This means avoiding energy-draining clients and minimizing needless emails and the back and forth of those who want to hijack your energy stores.
Tip : Don’t think in terms of a time suck but in terms of an energy suck. Determine what drama you can and can’t reasonably cope with while dealing with a difficult season. Respect your energy supply and fervently guard it. This is the most important gift you can give yourself, your team and your clients and customers.
Rethink organizational capacity : You don’t have to pursue every project, particularly during periods of change. Declining misaligned opportunities is an art that encourages more confidence and provides insightful clarity into how your most precious resources (your team) can be managed most effectively. It’s okay to scale back and focus.
Tip : Set a minimum level of engagement that respects your workload and boundaries. Recognize your limit and stick to it.
Perfect your client calendar management : Managing the flow of projects, especially in industries like design, can be fraught with daily changes from subs, to merchandise not arriving. to all of the other fun things we juggle. Leveraging project management tools like Click Up or Asana for project scheduling and team coordination is key for us to maintain productivity without micromanaging. Our Click Up system releases space in my brain for doing the important work.
Tip : Forego unnecessary responsesreserve genuine appreciation for in-person communication. Use a system like Mailstrom to get a handle on your email in bulk. And, most of all, discourage repeated emails back and forth. My team has a quota of emails to me they cannot go above. We have other communication vehicles and after a certain amount of email I check out.
Relinquish some control now : Mastering delegation is a journey often a decade into entrepreneurship. Before then, you might be kidding yourself. True delegation enables game changing growthnot only in client numbers or sales but in readying your business for its next evolution. I consider being a master delegator one of my strengths.
Tip : Trust your team more. Observe their progress from afar and allow them to shoulder more responsibilities. Practice random acts of catching people “being good” and don’t be stingy with the “attaboys.” It’s about growth, trust, and liberating yourself to concentrate on the broader vision.
It is in these challenging moments, or “seasons,” that we really find out just how adaptable we can be. And this discovery and awareness of our own resilience is what has propelled many small business owners to greater growth upon emerging.
Cheryl Kees Clendenon owns In Detail Interiors, a full-service design-based retail showroom in Pensacola, Fla. She also consults with and coaches other small businesses and interior designers, and writes HAT’s “Retailer to Retailer” column every month. cheryl@indetailinteriors.com
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