Using the pandemic as a catalyst for positive change

The year 2020 has been full of challenges for our society. The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Global Pandemic has forced us to change the way that we live and work. While this has been difficult, it also provided some valuable lessons we would do well to listen to. Foremost among them is that flexibility is necessary for survival. As individuals and businesses, we must be ready to change.

Don’t Fight the Current

When a business refuses to alter the way in which they operate, regardless of the changing environment, it is destined for failure. The pandemic is not going to simply disappear because we want it to. So, it is imperative that businesses find ways to remain flexible and make changes that will allow them to not only remain functional but to thrive and grow.

It’s a Virtual World

One of the biggest changes brought about by the pandemic was the need for employees to work remotely. Telework and remote work are not new concepts, but their importance and use grew exponentially as businesses had to close their doors, and people were ordered to stay at home. A recent Forbes article reveals the following:

• Of those employed pre-Covid-19, about half are now working from home
• Of those currently working remotely, 80% indicate they would like to continue to work away from the office at least occasionally, while 58% would like this to be their primary way of working.
• 69% of respondents to a SalesForce/Tableau survey agree that “The pandemic will permanently change the nature of work.”

Time to be Flexible

This is where flexibility becomes most important. While the pandemic has forced a change in normal operations, it does not have to be seen as a negative change. Flexible scheduling, working from home, telecommuting, are all ways to adapt to the current environment and keep the business moving. Microsoft Dynamics Jobs, along with Google, Amazon, and others have embraced this change and have found value in the virtual workspace. An example of this trend continuing was highlighted in Business Insider: Microsoft is extending its remote-work policy to July 2021 ‘at the earliest.’

Seize the Day

With no end to the pandemic in sight, businesses must accept that things are not going back to the way they once were. This is the time to fully embrace the idea that things are different now. Rather than dwell on the past, look ahead and use this as an opportunity to improve. Take a good look at your business and envision what it can become. Seek out ways to provide your employees with flexibility, work/life balance, and update your strategic planning process to better reflect the changes that now make up our world. When seeking new talent, re-write job descriptions to highlight your company’s commitment to taking care of the employees and offering them a welcoming, flexible culture that they will want to stay with for years to come.