As the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold, individuals, communities and businesses around the world have no choice but to adapt to this new reality. And while various global outbreak trackers are giving us reason to believe that social distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of the virus are beginning to flatten the curve, there’s still so much uncertainty.
What is certain however is that we will eventually overcome this situation. That said, it might be a stretch to say that everything will go back to normal – we seem to have crossed a point of no return and looking toward a brighter future might require framing things in the context of a post-coronavirus reality.
As one of the world’s most reputable sources for business news, ideas, trends and inspiration, Harvard Business Review is using its platform to share insights, stimulate discussions and offer practical solutions to lead businesses through this crisis. In fact, the magazine recently published a free e-book entitled, Coronavirus and Business: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review. This e-book provides readers with essential thinking about keeping a company running remotely, managing business through disaster and recovery, and finding a way to lead with resilience through the crisis.
HBR has also developed a special coverage section on its website dedicated entirely to the coronavirus. Here are few of the pieces we’ve come across that have been of particular interest:
· Digital Miscommunication. Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy address the fact that a lot of business communication is now being done digitally. The shift to digital communication comes with new potential pitfalls for miscommunication, which is why the two authors put a list together of common digital miscommunications and how to avoid them. Our favorite among them is to avoid sending emails during off hours if it’s not urgent. Yes, most of us are always at home now – no, that doesn’t mean we’re always in work mode.
· Working Parents. Avni Patel Thompson’s guide for parents working at home has some valuable tips to overcome what some are realizing to be one of the most challenging adjustments of being able to work from home. No matter how hard it is to integrate separate family schedules into one locked-down reality, working from home is still a luxury for many, so making that adjustment is a must.
· CSR. Mark R. Kramer brings up some interesting points and examples about corporate social responsibility in times of crisis in his article on how the coronavirus is putting CSR to the test. As Kramer points out, the bold and creative steps companies take today will help define their legacies tomorrow. He also brings up a really interesting example of how Johnson & Johnson responded when seven people in Chicago died after taking poisoned Tylenol pills.
· People Management (remotely). Barbara Z. Larson, Susan R. Vroman and Erin E. Makarius put together a guide to managing newly remote workers, which is a great read for both managers and their employees. One of the points that rings true is to provide employees with several different communication technology options. It’s true that different types of communication might require different modes of communication, so knowing your options and which option suits a situation best will facilitate distance working and collaboration.
· “Human” Customer Relationships. Humanize your company, Educate about change, Assure stability, Revolutionize offerings, and Tackle the future. These are the 5 key HEART strategies put forth by Ted Waldron and James Wetherbe in their piece about ensuring that customer relationships outlast the coronavirus. Like business/employee relationships, the way businesses handle their customer relationships now will not only help them weather the current economic storm, it can also help build relationships that last well into the post-coronavirus era.
Take a look at these and other articles on HBR’s coronavirus insight center and consider downloading the free PDF version of the Coronavirus and Business e-book. Both platforms have a wealth of insights worth digging into and sharing with others, especially since we’re all in this together.
Bradley and Chiara