Staff Morale
Business leaders have identified that keeping morale up among employees has been the biggest challenge they faced during the pandemic. As the number of Covid-19 cases rose and fell throughout 2020 and 2021 so did uncertainty about job security, the timing of the recovery, business solvency, and the ongoing realities of operational shutdowns and reopening of schools and businesses. This flux contributed to lowered morale among workers in all sectors of the economy.
Covid 19 redefined the workplace for many organizations. Those tasked with supervising staff had to learn how to manage home-based workers and productivity. Perhaps the biggest workplace reallocation issues involved workers with children. Parents who had to supervise children and perform their normal work duties struggled to work in noisy and sometimes chaotic conditions.
Return to Work Planning
As we head into September business leaders are challenged with creating safety plans for the safe return of staff. While many employees identify wanting to feel safe in an onsite work environment, businesses now risk losing valuable staff who want the ability to work from home. Finding the right combination of remote work and working onsite will continue to challenge business leaders as we head into 2022.
Uncertainty
Uncertainty about the ongoing duration of the pandemic, the strength of the economy and the unknown impact the fourth wave of Covid-19 and the Delta variant will have on the markets continue to plague the business community. Normal forecasting tools have become less predictable and pre-pandemic strategic and business plans have lost their relevance. Being able to respond quickly to change and enact planning that makes sense in the moment is key to flourishing in times of uncertainty.
Forecasting
Business leaders faced with the oncoming fourth wave of the pandemic must rely on the data and information they gather to make informed decisions surrounding revenue and growth forecasts. Simultaneously, they must also look towards the future to see if there are any imminent changes on the landscape that could impact their operations. Forecasting the future is exceptionally difficult when it’s not business as usual. Leaders who can collect relevant data and keep their fingers on the pulse of the marketplace will be better able to make forecasts than their brethren who insist on implementing outdated business and strategic planning tools.
Elaine Allan, BA, MBA
Technology & Business Blogger
Vancouver, BC, Canada