A Year Into The Pandemic: What Have We Learned?
It’s hard to believe that the COVID-19 pandemic first came into our lives just over one year ago. As a culture, we had to dismiss much of what we were used to in our daily routines, and create a new normal for ourselves. This pandemic has taught us many different things, and the way our workplaces run is no exception. Here are a few things the pandemic has taught us about the ever-changing business world.
Everyone Is An Asset
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the importance of the different roles of the church body. Without each member playing their role, the body will not function properly. In this context, Paul is referring to the body of Christ, but this can be applied to the workplace as well. Each of our members plays an important role at our companies. This pandemic has shown how essential every person is to the big picture, and that we should not only be treating them as such but also showing appreciation to each member of our team.
Change Can Be Good
With a rapidly changing situation, companies were forced to quickly change their normal business model. A 9 to 5 workday in a cubicle is now being accomplished from the kitchen table at home. A Stanford study of 16,000 workers showed that over nine months, working from home increased productivity by more than 13%. Workers said they found it easier to take more calls due to the quietness and comfort of their environment. These numbers have led some businesses to permanently adopt a hybrid model or become completely remote. A model that was intimidating at first has now proven to help businesses not only succeed, but improve productivity.
Resilience Is Essential
When met with adversity, it can be easy to withdraw and give up. Over 100,000 businesses – big and small – closed over the past year due to the pandemic. That number was extremely discouraging to struggling business owners, but instead of giving up, they got creative. Many businesses adapted by doing things like curbside pickup, online concerts, drive-in movies, etc. The resilience shown by these businesses enabled them to bounce back or at least survive from what could have otherwise closed their doors.
“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.” – Greg Kincaid
It is nearly impossible to prepare for something of this magnitude, but we’ve learned that we can find good in every situation. Our world will continue to change, but instead of looking at it in a negative light, we can use it as a chance to grow. As the pandemic continues, we should strive to grow as leaders both professionally and spiritually by looking for the positive and new opportunities that can come from our trials and difficulties rather than focusing entirely on the negative and adopting a victim mentality.