How to Survive 2 Weeks of Working from Home

This morning Richard Carter challenged the participants and his networking event with how would we manage our businesses if we were forced to work from home for two weeks because of the implications of Covid-19. The participants were drawn from small service-based businesses.

Remarkably, the group seemed to have all considered this issue to some degree or another yes somehow contingency plans formally written and others had done felt with the issue in recent times having returned from China. It was clear that the majority of people would continue to run the business in much the same way as they do now.

As with the Projects RH business today the vast majority of our communication with clients, and prospective clients, as well as strategic alliance partners and service providers is by telephone, email and videoconferencing. By and large only the venue would change. Both Projects RH and Tabatinga, based in Singapore, deal with clients whom we cannot see on a day-to-day basis.

It was generally agreed that new business did need face-to-face communications but it was accepted that in the circumstances everyone would understand physical meetings would need to be deferred.

It seemed to be a commonly shared view that the time would be used productively and would disappear remarkably quickly. There were repeated themes the business planning would be done compliance would be updated, accounting and all BASS returns completed and money would be collected. The strategies included pre-buying business essentials, buying staples online and having them delivered. This group had technically competent team members whom they felt would react responsibly. Whilst these answers were good as we discussed this people intended to continue to do business and doing business would come before planning et cetera. What was recognised that a lot of travel time could be used to complete outstanding administration tasks.

The group were remarkably calm about a potential lockdown but did not expect it would be likely. What it did reinforce was a need for us all to be technically savvy and connected. Even in a time of unusual business conditions, business will continue, and communications remain essential.

Thank you Richard, I left the seminar feeling that service businesses will continue even if we cannot come to our city offices.

Paul Raftery