How to Build Back Better after the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are all still trying to get the hand of this new normal occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. The reality is that the various are here to stay and it is up to us to ensure that we can survive despite the challenges that it posses both to our health and our livelihood. So how does one get to building back after all the stumbling? Lucy M. Kiilu, No Limit Consultants (www.nolimit-consultants.com) is a Human Resource expert with over fifteen years of experience in Business and People Management shared pointers on just how to do that.

During her presentation on Women Lifting Women Series 20, she presented  BUILDING BACK BETTER POST COVID-19. Her presentation was in three main dimensions.

These were:

1. Business and Careers
2. Health
3. Association

1. Business and Careers

In regard to our businesses and careers, Lucy share the following points on how to transition back :

• Get creative with limitations

Bearing in mind your limitations, get creative and find ways of offering the same service more cost-effectively. Within an organization, you can engage people from the different departments to contribute to. This could include consideration of the new product and redundancy of the nonproductive ones.

• Shift your focus on the online space

Video calls are the new normal. Not only are they cost-effective in times of saving movement time and the need to sometimes hire a physical space, but they also allow for the much need social distances. Embrace this new normal. With Zoom, Google Meets, and Go to Meeting, you are spoiled for choice.

• Communicate openly with stakeholders

Limited or total lack of communication between employers and employees breeds suspicion and mistrust. It is no secret that the pandemic has had it’s share of effect on the business. Be clear about what the company is doing towards countering this challenge.

• Identify and prioritize business opportunities

Identify the primary sources of revenue and make decisive action. This could include:

– Developing customer experience based on increased health and safety.

– Price adjustment to favour the clientele

– Creating flexible payment plans to give your clients a breather.

– Digitizing sales channels and creating automated processes to free up sales representatives.

2. Health

COVID-19 is a health related pandemic. In view of this, securing our health is a top priority when it comes to transitioning back into the workplace. Our health is our wealth and towards safeguarding this wealth, Lucy shared the following factors for implementation:

• Ensure that all the directives from the WHO/Ministry of Health/Occupation Health and Safety are adhered to before resuming operations. This includes social distancing and the provision of hand-washing and sanitation.
• Develop a sanitation plan and consider whether staff can or should wear protective gear. Major areas of concern are the common areas like the bathrooms. It is important to create a protocol that ensures the safety of the users.
• Embrace a startup mindset. Establish a brisk cadence to encourage agility and accountability. These could be Daily Team Check-ins, weekly 30 minute CEO reviews, and twice a month 60-minute reviews.
• Be human at the core. Apply a Human Touch and look into ways to create a conducive working environment for the employees.
• Start building publicity. Start by developing a marketing and opening plan so that you and your customers know your timeline for re-opening and are ready when it happens. Building awareness about your re-opening efforts can be vital to its success. It will, however, take time and resources.
• Take care of yourself by eating a balanced diet and boosting your immunity. It is also important to partake in a fitness regime to keep you in tip-top shape. Relaxation is another important aspect of your health as it affects your mental well being. Yoga is a great way in which to achieve this.

3. Association

The power of association cannot be ignored. Human beings are social beings and derive energy and inspiration by engaging with their fellow humans. The workplace, learning institutions, and the events have continuously provided us with the space to do so. Then COVID-19 happened. Women bear the brunt of these new restrictions and they are the most sociable.

Post COVID-19 Lucy shares the following points on how to maintain the much-needed association. They are:

• Establish a mentorship network

They say that if you want to walk fast, walk alone but if you want to walk far, walk with someone. Never walk alone. A great way to find people with shared vision or focus is by joining business associations.

• Build a purpose-driven customer play-book

Companies need to understand what customers will value post-COVID-19 and developed tailored experiences based on these insights. It is important to give special service to loyal customers as they hold the cards for referrals to other clients.

• Seek for help

With the children at home because of the pandemic, women are further burdened with home responsibilities. A great way to ease this burden is to engage children with online classes. Teachers have now moved online and it’s a great way to support the teachers while keeping your children positively engages. Everyone gets the help that they need.

• Re-ignite connections with family and friends.

A fast-paced economy had left us to tend to family. COVID-19 literary slowed us all down. With the advent of online calls, it a great time to catch up with friends and family. By so doing, we get to rejuvenate our minds and spirit hence are better placed to be more productive.

• Ecosystems and adaptability.

Given crises related disruptions in supply chains and channels, adaptability is essential. That will mean changing the ecosystem and considering non-traditional collaborations with partners up and down the supply chain.

Lucy concluded by saying that “no matter your business situation, be set on staying open. It is time to develop strategic plans to keep the business going as effectively and as consistently as possible. This means navigating the challenges and re-thinking how to operate while keeping the important strategies in mind. Analyse – Strategize – Operationalize.“