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The COVID-19 pandemic has given us many lessons to learn. One of those, according to McKinsey & Company, is how companies are able to weather major, unforeseen disruptions. Organizations that have been able to adapt to the challenges of this pandemic are resilient.
What does it take to be one of those resilient organizations? What lessons can you learn to bring your own organization into this next normal? McKinsey & Company broke it down into five characteristics they believe these companies share:
- Establish a common purpose and clear communications
Having clear principals for a company is important. Many companies found their purpose though was challenged at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilient companies were able to recognize this and alter their purpose.
Along with this clear, common purpose came clear and frequent communication. Being able to allow your employees and co-workers in on that vision will allow them to feel invested in it.
- Set up structures to enable rapid decision making
During this time, many companies have had to cut the red tape to get decisions made and items approved more quickly. McKinsey & Company suggests keeping those structures in place going into this next normal. This way decisions can be made more quickly if they align with the organization’s common purpose.
- Create networks of local teams with clear, accountable roles
Forming smaller, local teams can be a good tool for larger organizations. It gives the local team more accountability and therefore more investment in their work. McKinsey & Company also found this freed senior leadership to focus on bigger goals and overall guidance to the local teams.
- Develop a culture that empowers people
The COVID-19 pandemic gave some organizations the opportunity to empower their employees, no matter at what level they were at in the company. Those working on the front lines learned how to better serve customers by talking with them. If that person feels empowered by the company then they are more likely to talk to someone higher up about the idea.
Even if your organization empowered employees like this before the pandemic, there may be new ways to do it now in the new normal. McKinsey & Company suggests this is a great time to restructure the culture in your company to better empower employees.
- Provide the people with the technology they need
This is one common practice we’ve all had to learn. Making the switch to working from home at a moment’s notice was not easy. But now that we are through the initial shock, it’s time to really start thinking about technology for your future. Technology is key to our interactions in this next normal so it’s time for companies to figure out how much they are willing to invest in new technology.
McKinsey & Company end on this note: Organizations that want to keep the benefits they’ve enjoyed during the COVID-19 crisis, such as faster decision making and clarity of purpose, need to make that choice now.
Original Article: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/agile-resilience-in-the-uk-lessons-from-covid-19-for-the-next-normal