When business slows down or uncertainty creeps in, our instinct is often to panic. We start cutting costs, scrambling for new clients, and abandoning our proven strategies. But here’s the myth I want to bust today: just because times are uncertain doesn’t mean you should stop doing what works.
Keep Running the Fundamentals
The temptation to hunker down and drastically change course is strong when things get quiet. But if your fundamentals are solid—your marketing strategy, your delivery on objectives and key results, your core business practices—keep executing them. Markets always return. Things settle down. Unless you’re truly on the edge of a precipice, stay the course.
If you’re unsure what to keep doing, that’s a sign you might not have a solid plan in place. Every market has challenges. Every business faces good times and bad times. The key is preparing during the good times for the inevitable slow periods.
Use Downtime Strategically
Here’s an interesting perspective from a recent client conversation: when you’re busy is actually the best time to market. But we often get so caught up delivering work that we neglect it. So flip the script—when things are quieter, that’s your opportunity to work on the business rather than just in it.
Use this time to:
- Strengthen your marketing efforts
- Have your team document client success stories
- Review roles and progress toward annual objectives
- Develop or refine your strategic plan
There’s never a bad time to create accountability systems, whether through a coach, mentoring community, or internal processes. This allows you to adapt while maintaining your core fundamentals.
The bottom line? Don’t hunker down. Get after it. Keep doing what you know works.
About Monday Myth Check
Monday Myth Check is a weekly dose of reality where Jono Brake holds up commonly held leadership beliefs and asks the question “What if this was not true”. You can find the weekly videos and other posts by following Jono Brake on LinkedIn or following The Forged Leader, as well as on Youtube @jonobrake.
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