Five things companies should be thinking about NEXT

The Canadian Business Resilience Network brings together a vast network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 100 of Canada’s leading business and industry associations, from all regions and sectors of the economy. This network represents diverse viewpoints, and the CBRN blog provides a platform to share ideas with other members of the business community and the federal government. The opinions expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CBRN or the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. 

By Karen White
Vice-President, Crisis and Issues Management
NATIONAL

In a year where “unprecedented” has truly lost all meaning, how do organizations approach crisis planning moving forward? We have worked with countless organizations to plan, develop and test crisis communications plans leading up to 2020. Eight months ago, had you suggested a worst-case scenario that saw entire countries in lockdown, strained medical systems around the world and global-scale economic downturns and uncertainty, NATIONAL might have suggested that your test case crisis scenario was too extreme and far-fetched. However, here we are facing a real crisis that is so extreme it did not even make the list of possible planning scenarios.

Organizations have differed in how they cope and live with COVID-19. No two organizations are experiencing this pandemic the same. At NATIONAL, we have created the COVID-19 Response Continuum—a strategic framework to help organizations understand where they are now in the pandemic, and where they need to go and steps to get them there. As many organizations adapt and learn to live with COVID-19, it is time to start thinking about recovery. It will not always be a linear process, and there will be progress and continued challenges and opportunities.

As companies across Canada adapt to the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape, here are five things to be thinking about in the recovery phase:

1. Update your strategic plan. What has changed as a result of COVID-19? Have your priorities shifted? Are your targets the same? Should your focus shift? Reflect on major initiatives or strategic priorities and consider what to stop, start, pause, continue and what is new. Revisiting your forecasts and budgets and engaging in scenario planning is also a good chance to review priorities. We have some ideas for virtual strategic planning sessions to get you started.
2. Embrace change management. In business, change is constant, and the level of change we are seeing as a result of COVID-19 is nothing short of hyper-drive. Individuals and entire workforces are working in new ways, and companies are adapting service delivery and products. We are also seeing a number of workforce reductions, as organizations adapt to survive and thrive. Having a clear change management plan and path forward that is communicated in an open way is crucial to success during times of change.
3. Prioritize employee engagement. Employees are your most critical asset and good employee engagement is key to retaining and attracting employees. In times of uncertainty, employees are asking many questions of their employers; and the best among them are not waiting to be asked for this crucial feedback. So, how do you help keep employees engaged during these challenging times? There are a few things that work well in finding out what your employees need and how to respond like surveying your employees and seeking their feedback through informal channels.
4. Be prepared for cyber security incidents. With nearly 50% of Canadian professionals are working remotely at home, cyber-security has become a new priority for organizations of all shapes and sizes. The shift to working from home meant organizations accelerated their technology adoption and introduced tools such as virtual private networks (VPN), and collaborative software such as video-conferencing and instant messaging platforms. IT professionals have been engaged to step up cyber-security practices, for example, many introduced multi-factor authentication as a common guard against threats. While many Canadians report their organization has a foundational or better understanding of cyber threats, there are some organizations who still do not know enough.
5. Increase and diversify your virtual communication tools. With more people working from home, virtual meetings and presentations will continue to be a part of our COVID-19 recovery plans. We have mastered the mute button, and appreciate the need for good Wi-Fi, sound and lighting. At NATIONAL, we work every day with many clients to build virtual presentations and meetings to create the best moments possible, ensuring key information lands and resonates with audiences. Here are a few of our best tips, designed to enhance your experience.

A crisis does not have to be the end; it can often create new opportunities and beginnings. We have seen organizations pivot and thrive in this uncertain climate. The lessons we learn and the chances we take will define our capacity to be resilient.

The pandemic has shown us what is working, and what is not inside organizations—presenting an opportunity to grow back even better. NATIONAL has a network of expert communicators that work with organizations to create comprehensive plans that identify lessons learned and opportunities for growth.

Learn more about NATIONAL.

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