Business in the Time of COVID-19

April 7, 2020
BH
Claims matters, Expert training for health professionals, Incapacity management, Mediation, Medico-legal and expert matters, News

Whilst some of the benefits of the difficult times in which we are living may remain yet to be fully appreciated, it is evident that the majority have adapted in remarkable ways; demonstrating impressive creativity, flexibility, patience and tolerance.

Not that these elements were necessarily lacking in times gone by, but rather that they were possibly not embraced as fully as current circumstances demand.

Decisions about where and how to work that once constituted lengthy deliberations have been taken in a matter of days, if not hours. The extensive proposals and formal motivation processes previously thought necessary for proactivity and a reshaping of the work environment have fallen away, given the urgency of the situation.

Virtually overnight, the world of work has shifted in order to ensure economic activity, business continuity and the on-going progression of plans and projects that were underway when COVID-19 entered our lives.

This is a testament to our collective experience, with perhaps the most significant shift being the realisation of the importance of our connectedness, and the reality that survival through this pandemic has been, and will continue to be, together.

Although there are those who seem to battle with the need to step back from the addiction to immediate profit, thankfully they seem to be the minority – and hopefully, will become increasingly so as we each expand our mindfulness and consciousness in accepting that we are all on the same side; at war with an invisible, silent, and deadly microscopic enemy.

My professional experience as a specialist consultant and business coach in the past two weeks has been heart-warming, uplifting and positive in a variety of ways and the time so far has been filled with a generous combination of professional give and gain across the board.

Although it is currently impossible to conduct in-person medico-legal assessments and or carry out risk related functional capacity evaluations during lockdown, all other work in the form of:

independent opinions
claims assessments
joint minutes
training development
personal business coaching – and
online mediation (from the 9^th of April 2020 onwards)

have continued without so much as a hic-cup, and do so at a reduced hourly rate of less 15% for the month of April 2020. Where appropriate, the reduction in hourly rates will be extended as we continue to adjust and re-adjust to the different phases of the pandemic.

History has proven that there will come a time when this particular cycle of change has passed and we will emerge once again into the world to continue on our individual journey(s). Hopefully we will do so in a way that continues to uphold and practice the inter-connectedness that has become so integral to our survival.

I leave you with my personal wish from Burns-Hoffman Consulting and Coaching:

May we get to the ‘other side’ of COVID-19 having germinated the seeds of the greater benefit of the continued investment in our valued relationship, rooted in the principles of

LISTENING, SERVICING AND DELIVERING.

My latest Wednesday Wisdom blog titled: ‘Life in the Time of COVID-19’ can be found on