We find ourselves at the halfway point of a tumultuous year, with COVID-19, civil unrest, racial injustice and a sharp economic downturn as just a few of the challenges countries around the globe are facing. Spoken Word experts share what steps companies need to think about now to get ready for the second half of 2020.
“I think the biggest thing corporations will face this fall will be a great test in their abilities to be flexible. For as long as we can remember, corporations have done an excellent job of instituting policies and procedures to guide their businesses. As we’ve seen these past few months, those are now having to be rewritten on the fly. This is a huge challenge, which I equate to stopping a train once it’s rolling full speed down the tracks. It’s not an easy premise, but those that can adapt and be flexible in a timely manner will see success at a much greater level than those who can’t react in a timely manner.”
-Dave Scallan, Principal, Spoken Word Communications
“The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic has brought a profound global change in how society works, learns, and lives. I believe part of the reason why the massive protests in response to the recent cases of police brutality have gained such strength, is due to the anxiety and challenging time millions are facing. While companies have been vocal in supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, true change will only happen if actions are set in motion. Will companies incorporate professional development and/or recruitment programs designed to include more minorities? Will we see more members of boards, C-Suite executives, and executive leadership teams who look more like America?
The lock-down brought by the pandemic has also tested technology like never before. Undoubtedly, there will be another pandemic, natural disaster, or social unrest. When it happens, entities may want to question if they have supported their employees enough to perform their duties in a virtual world to deliver their services effectively.”
– Claudia Deschamps, Senior Counselor
“In the next few months, what should be ‘business as usual’ planning for all organizations, is fast becoming ‘business unusual’, with any many leaders questioning what lies on the road ahead with covid-19, social unrest, cyber security, economic and political uncertainty – and the impact on employees and their well-being.
To mitigate risks and identify business opportunities, companies need to focus on those areas they can influence directly such as: reviewing their operating practices to ensure they are ethical and deliver value-for-money; monitoring their markets closely for any changes, and maintaining open dialogue with customers, suppliers and staff to strengthen mutual trust.”
-Clive Hawkins, Senior Associate