As we inch into the next phase of life in a COVID-19 world, we look at the skills and characteristics that can help us all to succeed in this time of uncertainty.
Flexibility and adaptability
It’s human nature to carve out a routine, it helps create a feeling of safety and security and, in business, it can enable a slick and efficient process for getting things done on time. However, in this new world, flexibility and adaptability are essential for all of us. This can feel uncomfortable and even a bit painful, but often the organisations who adapt quickly in times of change - those who can adjust their normal processes and even their product or service to meet new demands - evolve to be stronger through times of change and crisis.
Introducing flexibility and adaptability into our work world can feel like huge mountains for most of us and something better reserved for large businesses. In reality, it doesn’t need to mean big, complex changes. Small, considered adaptions can make the world of difference. We’ve recently created a series of virtual open days for some of the Oxford Colleges we work with. Potential students can’t visit in person for now, but, through a virtual open day, they can still get that all important feel for the college, collect the information they need and enjoy the environment from the safety of their own home.
Use what you know about yourselves and your customer and factor in the ever-changing environment and adapt accordingly.
The human factor
Our ‘humanness’ as a society has been very much the epicentre of positivity through these tough times. In the height of lockdown, it was heart-warming for all of us to see that the first question posed on emails, in telephone conversations or video calls was ‘how are you?’ – and it was genuine. As organisations and as individuals, we’re all in different situations and coping differently. Tapping into our customers and understanding where they are at, being sensitive to their needs, adapting our communications and even how we conduct our business relationships is now even higher on the agenda, and it’s good for all of us.
Don’t ignore the tech
Technology can feel scary. It evolves rapidly and, if it isn’t your area of expertise, it may not make sense to you, but doesn’t mean that you should turn away from it. Technology can make your business more efficient and give you a competitive edge. Now, more than ever businesses are turning to technology to help them to succeed in this new way of life we all find ourselves in. Pubs and restaurants have adapted their normal processes brilliantly to meet the new social distancing rules by introducing apps and QR codes to create remote ordering.
If you don’t have the expertise internally, bring in an external partner to help. We do this for a range of clients, helping them to keep on top.
Keep learning
According to Albert Einstein, “Once you stop learning, you start dying”. Very true, but in reality, learning can feel like something we just don’t have time for in our already very busy lives. However, it doesn’t have to be daunting, rigid or formal. Nor does it mean that you have to burn the midnight oil trying to cram in and keep up. We’ve found that learning can be woven in to the everyday. For us, learning is listening to a TED talk on the way to work, reading an article in a journal at lunch, or taking time to read a good book. One of the great things that has come out of lockdown has been the availability of brilliant (and often free) learning resources. There are lots of great webinars and online lectures taking place which, even if you can’t attend ‘live’, can still be accessed afterwards. The key thing is not to worry about dedicating hours of time that you just don’t have, but instead keeping your mind open to learning and fitting in bits and pieces here and there into your daily life and encouraging your team to do the same. You’ll be amazed at the difference it will make.
Need help in using technology in your ‘new normal’ game plan? Get in touch, we’d love to chat.