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As Stay-at-Home orders are extended in many states till the end of May, the permanence of the new working environments is slowly sinking in…But this doesn’t need to be a bad thing. As a company that has operated partially remote, and now fully remote, for over 20 years, we know that it can work. In fact, you can thrive in a remote environment, and so can your clients. You just have to embrace the changes. The hardest thing for most of us is knowing what changes are temporary, and which ones are permanent. While none of us can say for sure, we can say from our own experience and that of our peers that the following 3 ways are a few of the main ones COVID-19 has permanently changed the workplace:
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Working from home
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This is arguably the most obvious change that COVID-19 forced business to adopt, and it is the one that will be sticking around for those industries that allow it. AARP released an article outlining survey results conducted to see how people were adjusting to working from home. “Forty-two percent of survey participants said the experience has made them want to work from more…and 78 percent said they are as effective or more so working from home.” If businesses can expect to keep employees happy, some sort of work-from-home will need to be factored into your plans. The good news is that while some companies have felt growing pains with the initial work from home, most of the kinks are worked out by now. This means you and your teams will continue be more efficient and effective in working remotely. By utilizing technology, communication, and change, your work-from-home reality can help to improve your business’s sustainability and profits.
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Priorities
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In a recent blog, we talked about how to prioritize during this pandemic. The next phase of that question is: what will be a priority once we’re back to “normal?” If you, as a business, start thinking of this now, you will find yourself far ahead of the game. COVID-19 has changed what qualifies as a priority at work. This is true in terms of services you offer, projects you work on, etc. But it is also true of the people you have (employees), the culture you promote, and the work life balance. One of the biggest priorities we see gaining more importance than ever is health. No longer will it be ok to come to work with a cold (which we are all guilty of), and as a boss you need to know this and support your employees. Change can be hard, and there will be some fear to overcome as we return to work. Be honest about the priorities and focus on what is in your company’s best interest, and then live and lead by example.
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Networking
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Many organizations have been offering remote networking events, and we expect this trend to continue even when physical gathering events are allowed again. One thing COVID-19 has shown all of us, both in the business and personal sphere, is how much community and our network matter. We fully expect this to gain more focus in the business world as we look at how to increase our network and community. This is true from a support system perspective, but more importantly, as a think-tank/innovation tool. Whether it’s virtual conferences, an increase in business focus on attending events, or a myriad of other items, connections and building a diverse business network will be key for a business to thrive. In this way – be sure to offer your own thoughts and insights to your peers. Great ideas come from sharing, and we believe the business world will flourish because of the new ideas being breathed into existence during these days of economic recovery.
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Don’t let the thought of permanent change scare you. While many of the changes we’ve all experienced were sudden, we know that as some of the shock begins to wear off, there will be a great opportunity for growth and innovation. If you embrace the changes the coronavirus has caused, your business is likely to not only recover, but thrive in this new environment.
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Interested in learning more about how COVID will have continual impacts on your business? Contact our team at Kim@QuantumMark.com today!
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