Experienced Insights: AEC Leaders Have Seen a Few Keys for Small Business Success

In NMBL Strategies’ third installment of the Experienced Insights series, we connected with Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry leaders as well as Design experts. These experts that have worked in and with small businesses or nonprofits offer insight into what is important to do and not to do. Bringing different viewpoints from the nonprofit leaders and attorneys that already offered fantastic insights, these five leaders offer advice on how to move forward and be an effective organization. Beginning with small businesses, we asked these experts what is one successful strategy they have seen small businesses execute during the COVID-19 pandemic. By asking this, we can provide small business professionals with ideas for them to use and adapt to their own experience in order to persevere in the face of the continuing health crisis. Here’s what they had to say: 

 What is one thing you're seeing small businesses do well during COVID?

 “Embracing new approaches to work and communication. This pandemic has essentially pushed the pause button and companies are now taking the opportunity to reconsider how they work.”

- Brian Henn, Pacific Studios

“Be flexible, accept technological communication systems, see the positive aspects of the changing norms.”

- Bill Haley, HSD

“I think there has been a return to the principles that make small businesses great in the first place. The customer experience as a focus seems to be returning, whether through personal reach to their clientele or in how first hand interaction can be comfortable and familiar. I see the small business market taking hold again as people crave a more experience based environment that is tailored to them rather than broad stroke moves that aim to meet and please a mass population or demographic.”

- Michael Friebele, CRTKL

“Working with flexibility and independence in working hours and schedules.”

- Joel Fuoss, Trivers

“Outreach, making a personal connection with existing clients and prospects.”

- Jim Hill, Sterling Project Development

With several great points made, our experts offer several key takeaways. First, it is important to stop and take a broad look at the situation your business is facing; once you know what you are up against, be flexible. In addition to flexibility, getting back to the basics of small business is key. Connecting with customers and offering the curated, personal service that large businesses often lack is a great way for small businesses to have success during a crisis. Many consumers are concerned about their safety, so personally tending to their needs and being flexible shows that your small business cares and can compete in a rapidly changing world. 

Looking for help mapping out the future of your small business and preparing for what comes next? Reach out to the team at NMBL Strategies at info@nmblstrategies.com to learn how we can help.