Now Plus One

What do you think are some of the most important POSITIVE changes brought about by the Coronavirus crisis on how we work and how we think about work?

This is February's Question of the Month, in my attempt to combine the concept of 'wisdom of the crowd' with my global contacts on LinkedIn!

Today's guest respondent is Wendy Robison, Director of Global People Development at Etsy

"No longer having to physically be in an office is more inclusive for many people who need or prefer to work from home. For example, people who are also providing care for family members, have differing abilities that make commuting difficult, or need a more flexible schedule. Because people no longer have to share space, virtual connection also enables folks located all over the world from different cultures and perspectives to interact in more immediate ways, collaborating on projects and sharing ideas through whiteboard technologies. The need to remain connected in human ways through virtual technology is also spurring creative advances, such as technology that seamlessly creates breakout groups, collects in real time information for quick polls, and provides ways for more people at a time to contribute to large virtual live discussions. Teams are imagining different ways to approach “icebreakers” so people can get to know one another and learn as a group despite the challenges of team members no longer sharing space together. Some teams mail physical objects or activity packages so everyone can join in an activity to share on camera, or home scavenger hunts, which allows time for storytelling and sharing of their space with others. Though there are definitely drawbacks to all virtual work interactions, people have found ways to creatively use humor, creative energy and technology to keep connecting in human ways."

Thanks Wendy!

What do you think are some of the most important POSITIVE changes brought about by the Coronavirus crisis on how we work and how we think about work?

This is February's Question of the Month, in my attempt to combine the concept of 'wisdom of the crowd' with my global contacts on LinkedIn!

Today's guest respondent is Buddy Teaster, President & CEO at Soles4Souls:

"We had to adapt on so many levels, including a wholesale staff restructure, as well as working remotely. What we found is that we had so many assumptions holding us back that when we were forced to look at everything, even through so much tragedy, it was actually freeing. We are now a work-from-anywhere organization and got rid of our vacation policy. We believe it will allow us to attract and retain the best people regardless of location.

We have also stepped up our communication frequency. Our 70-person team is probably more aligned than we have ever been. That has allowed us to improve our financial strength, keep every employee without a furlough or layoff, and serve more people than ever."

Thanks Buddy!