Getting the Team Back Together

摘要

AS THE SECOND half of this most extraordinary year unfolds, I keep thinking of all the things I had planned, hoped or expected to accomplish during the first half that now are on the overly long "to do" list. As we try to get back in the proverbial saddle and focus on what we can do within the confines of various local and national government pandemic restrictions and reopening timelines, my priorities are reengaging with employees, customers, suppliers and industry events. Each industry and company has issues to work through, whether it is bringing back furloughed or terminated staff, or just figuring out whether and how to integrate work-from-home into a long-term employ-ment scenario. In all cases, employee reentry must be dealt with quickly to rebuild the sense of corporate community and possibly build an even greater sense of team. People by nature want to be with other people. Collaboration requires a good smattering of face-to-face time. While Zoom, GoToMeeting and WebEx will continue to assume a bigger place in the business interaction mix, long-term success requires people being together at least some of the time. While we will reluctantly continue social distancing and wearing face masks at times, corporate management's number one challenge is how to bring the team together and get back to a more normal work environment. Customers, too, have been neglected, and business needs to find a way to reconnect. Yes, the various com-munication tools mentioned, as well as the tried-and-true phone calls and emails have kept customers and suppliers in touch, but they do not replace face-to-face meetings where new products are discussed, problems are shared and collaboration best occurs.