What an unexacted year, full of uncertainty and a real wake-up call for us all.
Starting like any other, easing into the highly anticipated year of Expo 2020, Euro 2020, and the Tokyo Olympics. Then it happened… the Coronavirus outbreak. Who could have known it was going to become the largest global pandemic since the Spanish Flu Pandemic 100 years before?
There was continuing uncertainty unfolding about our health, business, and future.
As the days turned to weeks, the realisation was clear, we are all in this for the long run, we need to re-evaluate the way we work in this unfamiliar territory forced upon. Then before we knew it, we were in 2021! So let us look at ways to potentially future proof ourselves for future turmoil.
The hybrid business model has shown great promise for businesses returning to regular routines, working flexibly between home and office, emerging back into office life with adjustments for improved health and safety procedures such as lower capacity offices.
Hybrid business models have also given rise to dynamic roles as opposed to traditional single-focused positions. The new working life demands adaptable and fluid positions to pick up the slack caused by disruptions, whether it is somebody away sick, reduced staff due to financial cutbacks, or simply expanding responsibilities of existing employees, to step up when required.
Embrace digital technology because there is no avoiding it in today’s market, the expanding functionality of digital devices and resources, requires businesses to conform to these advances if they plan to remain competitive. Appoint digital marketing as your primary communication tool, it is your safest option to remain active regardless of external influences.
Migrating to cloud-based servers or offering online services through video calling software both bypass the need for a physical presence, so take advantage of such tools to support the flexibility of conducting your business.
Create a systematic structure to maintain operational workflow, buffering against any external influences which would ordinarily create an unbalance to productivity. This comes down to self-management from each employee, but it must be initiated as a collective workforce, so individuals are aligned to the expected structure.
Management plays a pivotal part in the preparation, both line management and personal management. If you are efficiently trained by motivated by supervisory management, you gain the knowledge and skillset required to execute your role. Personal management is just as important, being accountable for your workload and remaining composed during unstable times.
Become innovative, thinking outside the box and identifying alternative solutions. When most were put on the spot during the pandemic, it took a long time to find solutions because they were not prepared. It is best to put innovative thinking into practice in everyday situations, training this skill just as any other.
The world is unpredictable, so take action to prepare for further unexpected disruptions. Make sure you establish a secure footing, geared towards the forward progressions discussed. A structured workflow, coupled with an opportune outlook will provide the mental and physical grounding required to overcome potential unrest.
An article by Gautam Gajjar.