The coronavirus crisis has impressively demonstrated to the economy how quickly tried-and-tested systems can be turned upside down from one day to the next. Anyone who had not dealt with the issue of crisis resilience beforehand had to prove their agility during the first lockdown at the latest. Changes were noticeable in all areas. Both employees and managers had to develop new skills that will continue to play a key role in the post-coronavirus era.
The coronavirus pandemic probably had the greatest impact on digitalization. Companies that previously had hardly any online presence launched websites and online stores overnight in order to continue making sales. Even the small knitting store next door found ways to deliver wool and needles to the surrounding households via online orders.
Corona has forced many companies to rethink their approach. Where previously there was a strict insistence on being present at the workplace, an infrastructure for working from home now had to be created within a short space of time. Both managers and their teams were and still are faced with the challenge of communicating via digital channels and working efficiently without being face-to-face. In order to emerge stronger from this forced restructuring, the following skills are crucial.
Personal responsibility & trust
For a long time, working from home had a bad reputation for employees using their time for private matters rather than for work. Since coronavirus at the latest, it has become clear that efficient working from home is possible if the right framework conditions are created. Managers must have the necessary trust in their employees to ensure that they stick to agreements, while employees themselves must demonstrate a new form of independence. Even if no one is looking directly over their shoulder, the work has to get done.
Digital soft skills
Video conferencing is the theme of the COVID-19 pandemic. In times when face-to-face contact was no longer allowed, the switch was made to on-screen communication. Holding meetings online requires new skills from everyone involved. This includes clear communication, including clear facial expressions and gestures to avoid misunderstandings. In addition, the participants must learn to be brief so that online conferences do not drag on endlessly.
Agility
For companies, agility in the world of work means demonstrating skills such as flexibility, the ability to act and productivity. Important decisions are increasingly being made by employees themselves, without having to wait long for feedback from their line manager. It is precisely these skills that have become indispensable since the pandemic. The ability to react quickly to changes can only be ensured if employees are strengthened in their skills.
Organizational skills
The to-do lists were long in many offices during the pandemic. Now more than ever, organizational skills are needed to distinguish between the important and the less important. Setting priorities instead of being in the office 24/7 is one of the skills of the post-corona era. Employees have also had to learn to focus on the essentials when working from home and not be distracted by what's going on around them.
Resilience
Resilience is closely linked to organizational capability. The focus on maximum performance is replaced by the following skills. How to focus on personal resources in a crisis and use them as efficiently as possible.
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