We have already observed it: a company is growing, the founder has just signed an important contract with a new client, and, as soon as stress subsides, his body sends him several distress signals. Visit to the clinic, battery of tests, and he is presented with a diagnosis that turns everything upside down. The care is expected to be long and the entrepreneur must devote all his energy to his recovery.
According to Canadian estimates, one in two people is expected to develop cancer during their lifetime. This appalling statistic reminds us that human fragility can manifest itself at any time, regardless of our ambitions and plans.
What to do when the entrepreneur must be absent for a long period for health reasons?
The first thing to do is talk to your team . Without necessarily revealing everything, the entrepreneur should inform his colleagues and employees of his situation and open the space so that everyone can express their emotions, their concerns, their encouragement and their questions. It's normal to not have all the answers when faced with so much unknown. You can, however, share your intentions regarding the continuity of the business and ask for everyone's collaboration in order to establish the plan.
The second thing to do is to put the contingency plan in place . Do you have one? Many small businesses have not really established this plan to respond effectively and with minimal impact on the company's business in an emergency situation.
In the case of an entrepreneur who must suddenly withdraw from his functions, we must think about the different roles he plays with employees, customers and suppliers, and his influence on the different activities of the company. Its activities will most likely have to be delegated to several resources with respective skills. The outsourcing of tasks (which we also like to call "uberization") can be very useful , both because it frees employees who must concentrate their efforts on their new responsibilities and because it allows them to seek out complementary resources possessing the expertise of the entrepreneur.
Powers of attorney must also be signed to give authority to certain key managers to sign checks, have access to bank accounts and manage legal documents on their behalf.
Then, the entrepreneur must inform his shareholders of his situation and the measures that have been taken to ensure the survival and growth of the company in the medium term.
Once he has handed over the reins of his business, the entrepreneur will have to accept that it will move forward without him. He will not be able to make every decision, and some mistakes will certainly occur. He could, however, ensure that he is consulted on certain subjects, which will have been defined in the contingency plan.
Learning to let go is for some a lifetime's work. But, often, great trials bring with them great wisdom.