Not every job comes with months of planning and preparation – sometimes the call comes in and you’ve got just days, or even hours, to work it all out. That’s just the nature of business, and it really can be unpredictable, seasonal, full of opportunity, and so on. And when those short-term demands happen, the companies that move fastest are the ones that are going to get ahead. 

However, a quick turnaround doesn’t mean you can cut corners, and you’re still going to have to deliver your best work, meet your deadlines, and keep everything running safely. So, how do you balance all that and still be successful? Read on to find out more about the practical side of managing short-term business demands. 

Photo by Artem Podrez

Start By Staying Flexible

Flexibility is everything when you’re working against the clock, and that doesn’t mean you’ve got to be unprepared, but it does mean that you’ve got some room in your procedures for when the unexpected happens. That way, you’re not going to be caught off guard. Having a list of trusted suppliers, knowing which team members are okay to do last-minute projects, and having contingency plans in place all make it easier to handle whatever comes your way. 

If you already know how to change your workload and shift things around, or you can bring in extra help when it’s needed, short-term demands won’t feel so scary, and they’ll be a lot more manageable. You won’t be panicking, and instead, you can just adjust to what you need to do, and that’s a big step forward. 

Keep Resources Light But Reliable

Owning every piece of equipment, managing it all, and keeping it ready for use just in case is a luxury most businesses can’t afford, especially if you’re handling varied projects or unexpected demands. That’s why on-demand resources are so useful, and they’ll give you the tools you need when you need them, without you having to spend your entire budget or fill up all your storage space. 

Take fabrication or repair jobs, for example. You might not need a full welding setup every week, but when a job comes in that requires it, you still want to have reliable, professional gear. So, what about looking into welding machine rentals? That’s a practical solution that means you can use the right equipment, but you don’t have to think about any kind of long-term (or expensive) commitment. You only pay for what you use, and when the job’s done, you can return it. It’s simple and effective. 

Build Relationships 

When things get busy, it’s easy to focus on just getting through to the next task, but the real advantage in fast-paced businesses is having strong relationships behind you, and that could be suppliers, tradespeople, delivery drivers, your team, and so on. Plus, the more connected and communicative you are, the better everything’s going to go. 

A good supplier is going to go the extra mile to find what you need, and a familiar team is going to work faster because they understand how to work together, and they understand what it is you want and need from them. And when things go a bit wrong, as they sometimes do, it’s your relationships with these people that are going to ensure you can get back on track sooner rather than later. 

Focus On The Essentials 

When time’s short, clarity is essential, so ask yourself what actually has to get done and what’s just a nice extra because that’s really going to make a difference. In the end, the more you can strip back so you’re only doing the essentials, the easier it is to get everything done, and you won’t have to risk your quality or reputation either. 

So that could mean doing things like simplifying processes, cutting your to-do list down, postponing non-urgent parts of a job, and so on. Plus, you’re going to need to know what your priorities are because the truth is that even when everything seems vital, not everything is going to matter as much as everything else. So what has to happen today? What can wait until tomorrow or next week? Knowing that information is going to save a lot of time and trouble. 

Learn From Every Rush Job 

Just because something is fast that doesn’t mean it has to be messy or not as good as your usual work, and in fact, short-term jobs are where you can learn a lot about things like your systems, your team, what works under pressure (and what doesn’t) and a lot more. That’s why it’s wise to take a few minutes after each project and ask what went well and what could be better next time. 

Even a quick debrief can help you make future jobs a lot easier, and the more you learn, the better things will get.