Doing business during quarantine doesn’t have to be impossible. There are a variety of digital tools that can help you capitalize on remote work in 2020. Read on to learn how you can complete your work as productively as possible.
An Unexpected Surprise
Living amidst COVID-19, it was all too easy to think that we would become productivity ninjas. For many of us, there’s no need to get in a car, bus, or subway to commute to work. Because of this, we can theoretically get work done at any hour of the day. Whether we need to send that important email or complete that Excel model, nothing is stopping us from getting it done at home.
As you likely know, the reality is quite different. This is especially true if you are a parent or caretaker. The days seem to fly by. At some points in the day, it can seem like we are less productive at home than we are at the office.
The bottom line, however, is that the work from home (“WFH”) trend is not going to simply disappear after COVID-19. Rather, I believe that we are living through an extreme paradigm shift. Everything from asynchronous video, synchronous video, real-time chat, and project management tools are making sustained WFH much more attainable.
In the end, WFH and remote work are increasingly important for knowledge workers. This is true whether you work for a young startup or a more established company. And if you are a CEO? Offering WFH opportunities will become more of an expectation than an added perk.
For these reasons, my colleagues and I at Dubb are proud to present a six-part series on remote work. At Dubb, we have been a remote-first company at the beginning, so we’re excited to share with you everything that we have learned about remote work. And if you’re interested in learning more about how Dubb can help you when you’re away from the office? We encourage you to check out Dubb For Remote.
In part one of this series, we are going to take a deep dive into conducting business during the quarantine. At the end of this post, you’ll have some unique ideas and insights on how to continue doing business amidst COVID-19.
Showcasing Your Value
Right now, we’re living in a more anxious world. Watching the news every day, it can be tough to stay optimistic. Before getting into how to conduct business during quarantine, we encourage everyone to stay home and follow the guidelines being shared. We can’t thank those enough who are putting their lives on the line to keep society going, whether it is the healthcare worker at your local hospital to the grocery store worker who is stocking the shelves.
Putting aside the true heroism of these individuals, those of us lucky to work from home can continue to do business in a semi-normal fashion. While it may not be in the traditional form, there are ways that we can keep business going so that they aren’t devastated by this global pandemic.
A large part of business during quarantine is being clear about the value that you provide to your customers (and potential customers). There are plenty of companies out there who are doing a fantastic job right now. Zoom, Netflix, and Disney+ are three great examples. While Zoom was most known for catering to enterprise customers, it has become the place to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues. Whether or not Zoom expected that it would be used in this way, it has embraced these use cases. The value that Zoom provides? It has become a central hub where we can do business, check-in with family, and even have happy hour with friends. Netflix and Disney+ are also central hubs for entertainment and water cooler talk. Whether you are a fan of Tiger King or Star Wars: The Clone Wars, these video streaming platforms entertain us and connect us with others while in quarantine.
Because of this, I encourage you to get your value and humanism out there. Show your customers and prospects how your company can provide value—even amidst a global pandemic. Along with this, continue to build relationships with both prospects and clients. People are still buying right now. They’re just doing it differently. Because of this, show your audience how the product or service that you sell can optimize what they are currently doing at home. You don’t want to exaggerate (as I’ll talk about below). That being said, if you identify how you can help others do their work from home, don’t hesitate to make your value known.
The Importance of Ethics and Sensitive Marketing
When doing business amidst COVID-19, however, it’s important to keep ethics at the top of mind. This is true throughout your organization, but it is especially true in terms of marketing. We’re not in the middle of some game or some sort of hypothetical exercise. We’re talking about real people’s lives here.
That said, we are also living in a time where companies and organizations can step up and help those in need. Like we discussed above, if you can help, this is a great time to step up and contribute in some way. At Dubb, for instance, we have responded to COVID-19 by removing all storage limits and providing free accounts. These are small steps, but it’s more about the effort and what you can do to help others in need.
Being ethical seems like it should be common sense. After all, we should all be ethical, whether or not we are living during a global pandemic. Even so, I have seen people try to take advantage of these types of events for their personal gain. It’s unethical and something that you should avoid.
Therefore, ask yourself whether what you’re doing is self-serving or is serving the community. Even if they are just little things, think about the feasible things that you can do to give back to others. It’s the right thing to do.
The Logistics of Managing Your Team
Whether you are the CEO of your startup or have some direct reports under you at your company, you’ll need to be over-communicative. Sitting in the same location, you may be able to get away with dropping into your colleagues’ offices and checking up on ongoing projects. Working under lockdown, however, it’s important to be proactive and ensure that you and your colleagues are on the same page. Whether you are blocking off time for a virtual huddle every day or are using tools like Asana and Slack to stay in touch, communication is vital.
Even so, there’s another important point to keep in mind. That is the fact that you cannot expect your team to be working 24/7. Even though they have access to their computers and phones, you have to be patient. To avoid any unnecessary drama or stress over work hours, make sure that you set boundaries and guidelines with your team. Days off should still be treated like days off. Doing this, you can keep your employees happy, which will allow them to do the best possible work while in quarantine.
Embrace Self-Care
Business during quarantine is unusual for all of us. It’s easy for the days to blend together. Even though we may be healthy and economically secure, the psychological challenges of this global pandemic are all too real.
Because of this, one of the best business tips amidst COVID-19 is not related to profits and losses. It’s about practicing self-care. If you and your team aren’t in the right headspace to get business done, your bright ideas or business strategy are going to be moot.
The good news? There is plenty that you can do today to practice self-care. Whether it is a daily practice or a habit that you return to when you’re feeling anxious or stressed, these behaviors can help you get into that positive mental headspace and do your best possible work. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some quick ideas:
- Make time for family. Not to belabor this point, but working from home, it’s all too easy to think that we need to use all of our free time to work. This can be stressful—especially if you are homeschooling, cooking, and otherwise caring for your children. Ultimately, try to find some downtime with your family. Whether it is a family game night or something like this, allocating protected time for family can keep you in a positive headspace.
- Develop a regular meditation practice. Plenty of studies show that meditation can reduce stress, ease anxiety, and help you focus. If you’re intimidated about meditating or don’t know how to get started, there are some great apps (like Calm or Headspace) that can help.
- Invest in a standing desk. If you’re able, having an at-home standing desk can help you focus. Not only that, but it is healthier compared to sitting in a chair for hours at a time.
- Exercise if you can. Exercise can go a long way in keeping you balanced during these stressful times. Even if you don’t have any exercise equipment in your home, try to step away from technology and get moving. Like meditation, it can ease stress and
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- Watch what you eat. I’m not saying that you have to need to go on some drastic diet while under lockdown. Instead, try to eat a balanced diet and cut back on the snacks and junk food. Your body will thank you.
These are just some ideas. The bottom line is that you need to actively take care of yourself during these uncertain times. Doing so will be beneficial for both your professional life and personal life.
Recognize That People’s Businesses Are Changing
Finally, it’s important to recognize that our businesses are changing. COVID-19 is such a disruptive and monumental global event that all of us need to think hard about how we can adapt. Speaking for myself, the tone of the messaging I’ve been getting on LinkedIn has dramatically shifted. Instead of questions about recording podcasts, for instance, there are more messages about support and help during these uncertain times.
I believe that the businesses that most quickly adapt to this new reality are going to be the big winners. Change is always hard, yet it is unavoidable to continue delivering your product or service to customers. I really encourage you and your team to think about how you can quickly adjust to this new normal.
For instance, are there new processes or tools that you can implement into your workflows? Can you deliver your product or service in a more convenient way for your customers? How can you give back to your community? These questions (among others) should be considered even after our lockdowns conclude.
As part of this, we encourage you to consider the value of video. Video is an outstanding way to check-in with your current customers and convert your sales prospects. It lets you build those deep, organic relationships with all of your customers and prospects. In a world where most of us are staying home, video can be your secret weapon in navigating this business minefield.
Adapting to This New Normal of Business During Quarantine
Ultimately, it is unclear when life will return back to normal. We still don’t know much about COVID-19 and there is a good possibility that a second wave will strike in the fall. Yet no matter how this global pandemic plays out, all businesses need to adjust to this new normal. Whether it is overcommunicating with your team or embracing self-care at home, I encourage you to be proactive. Embracing action here will go a long way in helping your business run as smoothly as possible.
Finally, if you are looking for a way to leverage video marketing throughout business during quarantine, we recommend that you check out Dubb’s free plan. With this free plan, you can play with our platform and see what actionable videos are like. If you’d like to learn more about our free plan (and our other paid plans), click here.
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