When the first wave of the coronavirus hit earlier this year, we all braced for the worst. There was a palpable sense of unease in the air, but now that we've learned how to navigate these new circumstances, we've grown more at ease in this new normal
Here are the top five lessons I've learned from speaking with recruiters and hiring teams nearly every day in 2020.
1. Proactive planning always triumphs over-reactivity.
Many of us learned the hard way how important it is to plan ahead of time for the worst-case scenario. Many HR professionals and business leaders were left scrambling to establish work-from-home policies, develop contingency plans, and manage remote teams as a result of the pandemic. The situation's time-sensitive urgency left a lot of room for error when there was very little margin for error.
Covid-19 is not the first, nor will it likely be the last, disruptive force to impact business operations. Proper planning aids in the resilience of our organizations and employees. Take the time to create a comprehensive pandemic policy that includes an action plan to keep your workforce safe and mission-critical functions protected for business continuity.
Outline the various phases of your outbreak plan and determine how you will keep people informed of operational changes. Depending on the associated risk level, each phase should have different policies and procedures. If your workplace is not completely isolated, your pandemic policy should include employee expectations such as regular handwashing and social distancing. To minimize physical interactions, you may want to divide teams into staggered working groups. All of these precautions add up to less stress and worry when the unexpected occurs.
2. High-Volume Hiring Continues in Difficult Situations — And We Can Handle It
Although this year forced some businesses to impose layoffs and hiring freezes, others (such as those with critical service staff) saw a significant increase in hiring. Both were difficult, but those tasked with rapid-fire recruitment needed to hire faster than ever before. People's lives depended on it, so HR teams were put under tremendous pressure to provide society with the workforce it required to survive.
Underappreciated recruiters were finally recognized for what they've always been: the go-to person for top talent who can get the job done right — and right now — as a result of this experience. Human resources departments do not always have the largest budgets, but the pandemic taught us how important our work is to the health of an organization and our communities as a whole.
Leaders must recognize that their HR team requires the proper resources to function in an ever-changing world. For those of you who have had to lay off employees, I encourage you to start making plans and putting tools in place now so that you are ready when things return to normal. After all, if people return to work in large numbers, there will be a global recruitment boom. Applicants will have a plethora of job opportunities to choose from, and you want to be in a position to attract the best talent.
3. Videoconferencing Is Not Your Enemy
We've been able to connect with teammates all over the world using technology for nearly two decades. Despite its potential for remote collaboration, videoconferencing has long been regarded as a second-tier option for office workers. Many people saw virtual meetings as a last resort, dreading the inevitable lag and echoes as participants talked over each other.
We now have a new appreciation for video's unifying power. During a lockdown, when we are unable to see friends, family, and coworkers in person, video software allows us to see each other face to face from a distance. We've learned proper video etiquette, and this tool is filling a real need. It's the next best thing to being together in person for social creatures. Because video meetings have become so common, some people prefer this mode of communication.
4. You don't have to shake someone's hand to hire them.
Is a handshake a reliable predictor of success? As humans, we can become overly comfortable in our current ways of doing things. “This is how we've always done it,” is an all-too-common justification in the workplace. We want that handshake to seal the deal because it is what we are familiar with.
Recruiters have discovered that video-based situational questions and structured interviews (which are arguably the best predictors of on-the-job success) are far more revealing than firm handshakes.
5. HR Tech Adoption Is Easier Than Expected
The waves of this virus created enough pressure to open the floodgates of mass digital transformation. If HR professionals were expected to do their jobs, what was once a wish list item became a near necessity. Although some people were hesitant to digitize traditional HR processes, they had little choice.
Hurried decision making resulted in some rash decisions, but those who took the time to research their options and read reviews from real users of the product discovered that adopting new HR tech is incredibly simple — as long as you have the right tools and the right support. It doesn't take long to master intuitive technology, and you'll soon reap the benefits by saving money, time, and mental space. Almost everyone I talk to says they wish they'd done it sooner.
We've all faced adversity in 2020, but this year has taught me just how resilient HR professionals are and how devoted they are to their jobs. You're making a genuine difference in the lives of employees and their families, and that's something to be proud of, even in difficult times. As we approach the start of a new year, I hope that more people choose to put these practical lessons into practice so that we can keep riding the waves of change until we reach the shoreline.
