How many articles have you read recently which stress the importance of particular things in times of recession? Well this is another one of those! Hopefully you will read on though as it sets out some very useful ideas to set you thinking about the various areas of your business. In turn, this will ensure you get the most from your resources. Whilst the ideal situation is to get specialists in to look at your business from top to bottom, this is not always viable for both practical and financial reasons.

The first thing to consider is your communications strategy. This applies to both internal and external communication. Make sure you’re getting the most out of electronic means of communication. Email marketing campaigns are far more immediate, direct and less expensive than traditional methods. Similarly, a lot of travel can be saved by video conferencing.

It is vital to ensure that staff do not become demoralised by being asked to work harder whilst accepting that there will be no pay rises. Consider areas where you can offer them something which will not actually cost the company any financial outlay. The most obvious areas are additional holidays and considering more flexible working patterns. The first will not affect the company’s wages bill and the second has consistently turned out to be a way of increasing productivity. Talk to your staff and ensure that they know you value their personal development.