Through Guy’s Eyes – Thriving through the lockdown

For years, business pundits have been talking about the need to remain flexible and adaptable, and to remain open to disruption.

Not for one second did any of us anticipate the circumstances we’d be facing when all of these qualities would be tested to the utmost. And yet here we are, with almost every company in South Africa (and beyond) worried about their survival, while employees accustomed to a professional environment struggle to come to grips with the new reality of working from home.

Here’s a revelation: what if you did more than simply survive? What if the current situation helped you thrive?

Yes, it’s possible. As with any crisis, the pandemic has presented a platform for the kind of innovation that will make it possible for your organisation to shine. But, to take advantage, it’s vital that you are seen to provide strong, inspiring and affirming leadership from the outset.

Maintaining communication with your entire workforce right now is vital. This is the key that will show them that they are not without direction; that although there is a distinct feeling that control has been lost, there is indeed someone to guide them.

This, then, is your role right now. It means staying connected to all within your organisation, and keeping track of how they’re faring.

Your organisation will benefit from this process, too. Think of your employees as an experienced and insightful band of fieldworkers who are able to feed you impressions and understanding, all of which can be leveraged to forge a new way of thinking that’s in tune with how the market feels right now. It’s an unusually accurate way of conducting research.

To aid you in this process, Blueprints has developed an emergency two-way virtual workshop that will enable you to keep a finger on the collective pulse of the organisation. The solution is quick, simple and device based.

Contact us so that we can set up a 15-minute Zoom call, and we’ll show you how.