COVID-19 SME Forum
GlobalLinker and Wadhwani Advantage have together partnered with industry experts and leaders to help your business be better prepared
236 week ago — 7 min read
Crisis is a big leveller and creates new paradigms to look at situations differently. The ongoing global chaos due to COVID-19 has created the biggest disruption across the world in the new millennium. What is interesting is that this disruption has happened in the most advanced stage of global evolution where the world is one, communication is instant and technology is very advanced. Still we have billions of people locked down across the world. I thought and imagined the possible disruptions in people and business once the stabilisation starts.
Higher remote management skills such as influencing, empathy, listening, ability to be precise in briefs over calls, will be needed for managers. Micromanagement will be ineffective as the new norm may have very less scope for such managerial styles.
During the lock down, many who wanted to work from home were unable to cope with stress, loneliness. They were with families but were unable to dialogue constructively. Organisations will invest and organise regular learning and development opportunities to develop these behavioural and soft skills amongst people. Ability to dialogue will be a key skill in demand.
Two dimensions to this:
1. Enhanced focus on creating more entrepreneurs who will generate jobs would be vital. Internal dependencies will be the priority. Like Japan post a setback revived into a global giant, India also has the potential however the DNA needs to be energised and activated. Policy makers will need to look at this aspect seriously.
Like Japan post a setback revived into a global giant, India also has the potential however the DNA needs to be energised and activated.
2. People skills will have this as a key attribute. Entrepreneurial mindset must not be confused with someone wanting to start a business at home. The intent is to display a spirit of enterprise at a time when there is no pressure of work. Many businesses have a day or a week, quarter where workload is less, spirit of enterprise is to still think how to keep one engaged constructively and think of adding value when organisation has no defined work given. Productivity issues will automatically be solved.
Also read: An unprecedented challenge, also an opportunity for SMEs to do unprecedented things
Technology at enterprise, home and device level will be more oriented and compatible to home office scenario, considering critical nuances of working from home.
One of the new norm may be having specialist workforce being available on assignment basis. People practices will also look at retainer-based models as much as fixed workforce models. Organisations may have an igloo workforce where the core function may have few people on fixed organisation roles and retainer-based arrangements on project mode to take care of deliveries. The Gen X, baby boomers will be in great demand since the experience they have will be an asset to revive the business in the time of crisis since they are an extremely valuable pool of resources, with years of experience, maturity, skill and competence.
Businesses will have to keep a balance of economic, medical, social, emotional, political factors for decision making and not just market, customer and business goals. It will open up new dimensions and principles of strategic decision making on sourcing, basis who is more ethical and adds greater value. New principles of business decision making will evolve.
Businesses will have to keep a balance of economic, medical, social, emotional, political factors for decision making and not just market, customer and business goals.
In my opinion the above are early indicators and certainly we are in a very disruptive moment of our life. Especially for India which has a young workforce and is chasing a trillion dollar GDP growth target, the decisions and choices made now will have significant impact in times to come. I am very hopeful that India will come out of this as a winner. Stay safe everyone. To good times!
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, official policy or position of GlobalLinker.
Posted by
Debashish DasLeadership and Business Growth Coach with over 20 years of experience in coaching and consulting. Specialist in HR, Strategy, Business Growth for SME and Corporates. As a coach...
COVID-19 SME Forum
GlobalLinker and Wadhwani Advantage have together partnered with industry experts and leaders to help your business be better prepared
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