This year has been a thorny one for businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown countless businesses into turmoil and has caused significant shifts in company cultures. Company culture is defined as an organization’s ethics, methodologies, behavior and objectives. Although a COVID-related upheaval of a company’s culture can be disastrous, it can also have a silver lining.
1. Solidarity
This disaster has drawn people together for support, as many tragedies do, leading to more compassionate work cultures. There is a sense of banding together to fight a mutual enemy, and this fosters friendships and deeper work bonds. People begin assisting each other and caring about each other’s wellbeing.
2. Virtual Hiring
Pandemic or not, companies must keep themselves fresh and relevant by hiring new talent. Virtual interviews spare candidates from wrangling with long drives and traffic to their meeting with hiring managers. Managers can expand their hiring options by drawing from a worldwide talent pool. If they want to hire someone in another country, they’re only a video conference away.
3. Better Communication
With management, staff and clients at multiple locations, communication must be extra-clear and focused. This increases the efficiency and accuracy of interactions. Additionally, video conferencing eclipses email, phone calls and audio conferencing as both a visual and audio medium. Many people absorb messages better when they not only hear but see the other party.
4. A Humanizing Peek into Each Other’s Lives
Unlike a physical office, remote work opens up glimpses into coworkers’ lives. This was famously exhibited by Professor Robert Kelly, known as the BBC Dad, whose interview with BBC News was interrupted when his children ran into the frame. These impromptu moments can personalize work relationships as no office environment can.
5. Relaxed Dress Codes
Traditional workplace attire (at least above the waist) may be required for video meetings with clients and executives from other companies. However, during in-house video conferences, numerous companies only require informal business attire or neat-looking casual clothing. This is a boon because many people feel more comfortable, and therefore perform better, in relaxed clothing.
6. Efficient Decision-Making
COVID-19 has created an environment in which the business landscape often shifts in a heartbeat. For instance, the UK’s Nightingale Hospital was built in less than 10 days to accommodate a surge in virus patients. The upheaval surrounding the epidemic has honed lightning-fast, accurate decision making. It also allows companies to slash red tape that would normally bog down that decision-making.
7. Deepening Understanding and Use of Technology
For those employees who are tech-savvy, the transition to video conferencing will broaden their knowledge. For those who aren’t, learning how to operate video conferencing equipment will be an educational experience. For both, it will present opportunities to learn how to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.
Company culture has been formidably tested by the coronavirus. Business operations have often been upended in the blink of an eye. However, amidst the storm new possibilities are emerging that can strengthen company culture.