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COVID-19: Crafting a Crisis Statement

Share the goods.

It’s been a fun few weeks, and we say that with all the sarcasm we can possibly muster in our bodies. At times like this, communication is key, along with compassion and empathy. If you have not addressed COVID-19 with your staff, customers/clients, community or partners, you’re already playing catch-up. Below, we outlined the necessary steps a business needs to take to craft an internal or external statement. It is absolutely imperative this statement goes out as soon as possible.

The Situation

What do you know to be the truth? The easiest way to draft this portion of the statement is to bullet point what you currently know. It is crucial that businesses express concern and sympathy for those affected. Putting this at the start of the statement will show you understand the severity of what is happening and will demonstrate compassion, concern, and humanity.

  • Coronavirus is spreading and cleanliness and hygiene are of the utmost importance.
  • The government is issuing mandates that businesses must follow.
  • This will impact small businesses significantly, and it is anyone’s guess to what extent.

Action Plan:

In this portion of the statement, you want to indicate the steps you are taking at this time, as it relates to all the parties affected. Depending on your business, this should address:

  • Employees: What will your employees be doing? Will they be working from home? Will you be forced to lay-off a portion of your staff? If you are in the hospitality industry, will they be available for deliveries or takeout?
  • Business: If your business will continue to serve clients and customers, in what capacity? Will your staff be available by phone, video, text, or in person?

Reassurance

Put the crisis in context and be as positive as possible. Honesty is always the best policy. There is no way of knowing what the short-term or long-term implications will be of COVID-19. Let your clients and customers know you are continually monitoring the situation and reinforce business continuity. Leave the public health news to the experts: the CDC, World Health Organization, etc.

Details & Updates

Honestly this shit is changing every day, if not every hour. We don’t know what we don’t know. Once you have factual information that will impact your business, be sure to share it over your communication channels—social, website, email, etc.
We want to leave you with this:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

― Fred Rogers

This is an unprecedented time in our history. We have to support each other, in whatever way that may be—large or small.
If you need help, know we will do whatever we can. Connect with Kim directly at *@*******gn.com“>ki*@*******gn.com.

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FUN FACT FRIDAY: It’s only fitting for us to own a building where a trailblazing female operated her businesses in 1906. The Phillips family represented one of the longest-running retail tenures in Grand Rapids history; L.E. Phillips Jewelry in the 1365 Plainfield Ave. building from 1906 until 1973.
Dr. Eva Phillips, a certified and licensed optometrist ran her practice out of the jewelry store’s secondary parlor and was an equal partner in the jewelry store.

Together, they offered a unique one-stop shot which expanded to include appliances, record players, and more. The couple operated the shop through two World Wars and the Great Depression, acting as the neighborhood matriarch and patriarch.

@crestongr @crestoncorridor @crestongrandrapids @citygrandrapids @grandrapidspubliclibrary

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17898983202545176
FUN FACT FRIDAY: It’s only fitting for us to own a building where a trailblazing female operated her businesses in 1906. The Phillips family represented one of the longest-running retail tenures in Grand Rapids history; L.E. Phillips Jewelry in the 1365 Plainfield Ave. building from 1906 until 1973. Dr. Eva Phillips, a certified and licensed optometrist ran her practice out of the jewelry store’s secondary parlor and was an equal partner in the jewelry store. Together, they offered a unique one-stop shot which expanded to include appliances, record players, and more. The couple operated the shop through two World Wars and the Great Depression, acting as the neighborhood matriarch and patriarch. @crestongr @crestoncorridor @crestongrandrapids @citygrandrapids @grandrapidspubliclibrary

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18112263326023209
Have you tuned into The Happy Hour Hustle Podcast yet? If not, a) you’re missing out and b) you need to follow immediately. Hosted by @bodespeaks, episodes drop every other week, and feature some pretty bada$$ guests if we do say so ourselves. This week, Kim sits down with @kelsey_orchard , VP of Marketing and Communications at @fifthwheelfreight to chat building a personal brand, Gen Z entering the workforce, misconceptions about logistics, spotting fake LinkedIn profiles – oh and why your GPA doesn’t matter anymore. Grab a watermelon margarita, sit back and enjoy for lots of laughs and real talk. Listen now at the link in bio.

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We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation.

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Register at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18132641716644887
National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up. We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly. We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared. Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later). Register at the link in bio.

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Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18089775152664042
You asked, we delivered. Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership. Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it. Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business. You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are. Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.
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