Many managers have been through crises as part of their job experience, but few have experienced anything like the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis is still going on, but during the first month, back in March, many managers had to redesign an entire set of workflows to accommodate the crisis.
What have managers learned so far and how will it apply to next year and the new world of work in a global pandemic?
Lesson 1 Learn as You Go
The pandemic has moved many companies into uncharted waters. Remote work is an area that many companies had never experienced, but COVID-19 closed companies and established new policies that forced managers to change their behaviors. Many managers learned that remote work is a viable option to keep their workforce productive. They learned this on the fly; within a month of the pandemic, everything changed.
Lesson 2 We’re In This Together
Teams reformed remotely and managers learned the value of the connections that brought everyone together no matter where they were located. Pulling together was something teams learned to do by using a variety of communication tools. Mangers adapted to these changes by establishing and maintaining new software and policies that kept their teams moving forward.
Lesson 3 Networking is Still Important
Talking to colleagues is always important but more so now. Finding out how everyone is adapting to the rapid-fire changes that have hit us has helped managers learn from one another. It’s the trickle-down effect; employees benefit when best practices are shared. It can ensure that your managers will get it right the first time instead of having to learn from their mistakes.
Lesson 4 Think Outside the Box
The best ideas sometimes come from out-of-the-box thinking. For example, companies that had never had e-commerce before ended up adopting this sales methodology. The restaurant industry built out home deliveries to keep sales going when inside dining was temporarily closed down. But managers had to think outside the box as well in their efforts to manage teams, handle social distancing, and keep their workers both productive and safe. We learned during the uncharted waters of a pandemic that all ideas should be reviewed and considered to keep your business moving forward.
Lesson 5 Take Everything We Learned and Apply it to Today
As companies exit lockdown mode and move into the next phase of the pandemic, all of the lessons we’ve learned to date will be important. The best managers will continue to learn new things while shifting from what doesn’t work and capitalizing on what does.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the learning curve for your executive teams. Pride Staff works closely with companies to ensure their hiring processes run smoothly, whether the demand is for a temporary or long-term full-time workforce. Talk with our team today to see what value we can bring to your team.
