A COO’s Take On Lessons Learned From The Pandemic
With remote work not going
anywhere any time soon,
companies are beginning to
explore a hybrid model. Working
from home has shown massive
productivity gains, yet it lacks the
human element office settings
offer that is so vital to employee
wellbeing and company culture.
A hybrid approach, allowing
employees to decide when and
if they want to work remotely or
in the office, will be the standard
going forward.
Companies have come to
realize they can no longer force
employees to work in an office
setting, and the option to work
from anywhere is valid and
possible. A hybrid approach
allows employees to set their
own expectations, so long as
they’re getting their work done
and contributing. Employees
need personal elements an
office setting provides, but they
also need their own space with
minimal distractions — and the
freedom to decide what formula
works best for them.
Onboarding Processes Set
the Tone
The past year has illuminated that
a solid and robust onboarding
process is key. It’s not easy
managing a workforce, let alone
a remote workforce, especially
during the hiring and onboarding
process. Many companies have
seen tremendous growth, which
means quick hires and speedy
onboarding. But, that initial
onboarding and introduction
process has ongoing impacts
and effects. Companies must
lean into a robust, thoughtful
onboarding process for maximum
outcomes for the employee and
employer down the road.
The Zoom reality has resulted
in a few perks, like broadening
the employee search pool and
breaking down interview barriers.
However, it’s made onboarding
a new hire leaps and bounds
more challenging. The first few
weeks for a new hire is where key
integration takes place, which is
critical to forming relationships
with colleagues and learning the
ropes. It’s always the company’s
responsibility to ensure an
effective onboarding process,
regardless of the employee’s role
or if they’re working remotely or in
the office.
Surprises Become
Advantages
Unprecedented times also bring
along unexpected surprises and
realizations. One of the most
pleasant surprises from the
pandemic for many companies
has been the success of virtual
conferences and events. For
example, a virtual conference just
a few months ago had close to
1,000 attendees, whereas similar
in-person conferences typically
expect to see 300-400 attendees.
Virtual conferences and events
eliminate travel barriers like cost
or arranging childcare while
away, for example, and ultimately
increase conference access
and equity.
Another realization is that large
deals can be closed virtually
and high stakes meetings are
still occurring without meeting
in person. This is great news
specifically for smaller teams and
companies, as budgets, travel or
wining-and-dining no longer hold
teams back.
While the past year has certainly
had its challenges, hurdles and
ups and downs, it’s opened
business leaders’ eyes to new
ways of doing things and offered
a much needed fresh perspective.
Whether it’s new ways to
contribute to company culture or
an updated onboarding process,
business leaders and executives
can take what has been learned
over the past year and apply it for
years to come.
Sankar Lagudu is the Co-Founder
& COO at RFPIO Inc. An IT
professional with over 20 years
of experience, Sankar has led
cross-functional teams to
deliver high-quality products and
cost-effective solutions for Fortune
500 enterprises. Sankar’s first-hand
RFP experience with outdated
solutions prompted him to create an
industry game-changer, RFPIO.
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