The COVID-19 viral disease that has swept into at least 114 countries is now officially a pandemic according to the World Health Organization. This is the first pandemic since the H1N1 “swine flu” in 2009 and it is forcing business leaders to adapt how they safeguard their employees to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, while effectively serving their customers during a time of crisis.
How Denver is responding to COVID-19
On March 22, 2020, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued Executive Order D 2020-013, ordering employers to reduce in-person workforce by fifty percent due to the presence of COVID-19 in the state. The next day, Denver’s Mayor Michael Hancock took it a step further by issuing a “stay-at-home” executive order which carries up to a $999 fine per violation. This order begins at 5 pm on March 24th and runs through April 10th, 2020.
How to adapt to uncertain times during COVID-19
So, how do businesses and organizations pick up the pieces and pivot? What strategies will allow you to carry on as you face these unique, new challenges of doing business in the global pandemic era?
Some would say it’s transitioning to a remote workplace. Businesses that are run remotely can operate anywhere. That’s close, but not quite.
It is essential to be able to maintain human relationships, the team rapport, and to close the virtual distance gap while transitioning to managing and working remotely. The key is it must be a planned, intentional transition to ensure that business continues as usual.
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, business owners and organization leaders are under immense pressure to follow CDC guidelines and state and local government executive orders while keeping business going so that their staff can continue to have jobs, pay their bills, and get through this crisis financially.
Fear not, you likely already have all of the tools your organization will need, and if you don’t, they are within reach. That’s good news. The great news is that this transition is going to open up new ways for your organization to run that has never before been possible. Many organizations have already proven that it is possible to successfully run business and operations with a remote workforce.
Pivoting to a virtual office with efficiency
Switching to a virtual office overnight will inevitably be haphazard at first as we all race against the clock. It’s ok to transition quickly and adjusts later, as long as there is a plan in place. What goes into an effective, sustainable plan?
We want to share the best practices that we have identified through research and experience with other organizations that have benefitted from this process. To that end, we have created a brand-new workbook, How to Pivot Your Business During COVID-19. The guidebook walks organization leaders step-by-step through the 6 components that are essential ingredients of an effective transition strategy. This includes analysis of your pre-Pandemic operations, building a vision with your team, policies to maintain productivity and efficiency, strategies for maintaining company culture, IT solutions for remote work, and training and support for this new business environment.
There will be stumbles and roadblocks to overcome, but with the right strategies in place, you are positioning your business to weather this storm. Once you see how agile your business has become and how happy your workers are, this might just change your business forever.
At AccountabilIT, we have over 17 years of experience running and supporting such organizations. For the past several weeks, as global events have put business owners and organization leaders all in a tight spot, we have been helping our customers adjust their business models to accommodate working from home as they shelter in place. Our hope is that this guide will help you keep your talent happy and productive while you sidestep some of the typical pitfalls that can arise when transitioning to a virtual workspace.
Download your FREE COVID-19 Guidebook
