What does Bounce Back Stronger Really Mean for British Business?
A quick look at the internet, listen on the radio or even read the press and the world is talking about bouncing back. Apart from the positive sentiment, what does that mean for every business? For many company’s survival is the only reality they have been facing daily in dealing with the Covid19 pandemic. From staying open and operating with the ever-changing restrictions on how to operate safely through to lockdown period has been their sole focus.
The real challenge for owners and managers of businesses is that they have had no time to stand back and see what the world will look like beyond the here and now. The ever-changing landscape of what business can do and what they are able offer and how their customers will immediately react has restricted the ability to plan beyond the immediate future for many. That means that they are not able to bounce back stronger as they have been just surviving day-to-day.
To bounce back stronger requires businesses and their owners to step back from the frontline and see what has permanently changed in their business model and then take advantage of that in how they operate. Today businesses can operate without everyone sitting in their office, and forecasts suggest that (despite government wishes) only 6% of people want life to go back to what is was before. So how can a busines stake advantage of that? Many are looking at more flexible working arrangements, we have just had four months of working from home, so building in a better mix may become the new way to provide a better work/live balance, by replacing the daily commute.
Supporting people at work has also changed. As businesses delayer their management structures, enabling employees to be their own bosses, so the nature of managing and developing people has changed. Hard annual employees’ reviews are being replaced with flexible rolling personal development plans, mentoring and support. With employees now developing skills across a wide range of skills areas companies need to enable their employees to develop themselves. This is where creating a personal development plan is now about developing not just the hard skills but the soft skills with the resources employees need to succeed.
This is why many leading companies across multiple sectors are providing online learning resources to support their people to grow and develop into the role they have today and want to have tomorrow. Employees want to develop their skills are the rate they need them to do their job well, and develop relevant skills to undertake specialist projects as well as grow into the next role they are aiming for. Online learning platforms are therefore the most important resources you can provide your employees to support them across a wide range of skills. Enabling them to learn what they need, when they need it wherever they are.
To bounce back stronger business leaders need to think about the new world, not reminisce about the old world. Now is the time to make step changes in what and how your business supports and develops your people to succeed in the new economy. To bounce back stronger, developing your people should be at the forefront of what the new business model needs to look like. Companies with people first cultures are the most likely to succeed in this new economy, not only in getting more out of people, but also in having engaged, motivated and focused teams pulling in the same direction.
So if you are looking to bounce back stronger, start with making your people stronger by supporting them in their role with cost effective learning and development with IMPROVE Online Learning, learn more at www.improve.online.