Due to Brexit, 2019 looks set to be a year filled with uncertainty for businesses.

The future is always unknown but this year managers will need to navigate some particularly choppy waters due to market uncertainty and global political turmoil.

 

Focus on what you can control

As a manager, you can always control your response, attitude, behaviour, actions, and words. You can choose to be proactive and inquisitive rather than paralysed. In times of uncertainty, the best managers step up and embrace their authority. When times are uncertain, your team wants you to lead the way. Bring your team with you on the journey, ask them for their opinion, include them in your planning conversations and challenge them to come up with new solutions.

 

Cash is king

In uncertain times, the old adage that “cash is king” carries even more weight. Cash is the lifeblood of your business and poor cash flow management kills businesses during tough economic times. Market volatility also creates opportunities. If you have cash or credit available to take advantage of these opportunities when they present themselves, you may be able to move quickly and move your business forward. As such, good cash flow management can allow you to cash in.

 

Embrace change and adapt

As your particular market changes, there will be opportunities for you to adapt. For example, if your customers have less budget to spend on buying products and services in your sector, it might be an opportunity for you to introduce a lower priced “value offering.” You could even go one step further and change your pricing model. For example, you could move clients to monthly retainers rather than charging a once-off annual fee.

 

Diversify

If you depend on one big client to keep your business going, you should consider how to diversify your client base. Sometimes even giant businesses fail during tough times. If your biggest client goes out of business, you don’t want to be collateral damage. Just like in investing, the key is to have a diversified portfolio. Now could be a good time to look at trying to win some new clients in order to make your business more resilient.