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Workforce Strategies for Businesses Navigating a Disrupted World

(The following is taken from the first half of the Bold Business webinar “Beyond Working From Home: Strong Workforce Strategies for a Disrupted World“, which aired on April 2, 2020.)

We live in a disrupted world, and businesses have needed to pivot dramatically to adapt. Previously, I discussed the “mesh” that would enable enterprises to safeguard against threats to business continuity of any level. This time, I will focus on the specific workforce strategies that will insulate companies from disruption. I’ve distilled it down to four smart moves.

  • The first problem that you need to solve is that you need to have a plan for the “mesh”. If you haven’t done the work ahead of time, you’re going to be way behind the curve.
  • Secondly, you need to build technology and processes for the new work environment. It’s clear with this pandemic that we’re going to need processes that are more sturdy.
  • After that, you need to really diversify your workforces and your partners, and not get too tight in one location.
  • Finally, ideally, you need to have some plans in place for “flexing up”.

Let’s dive into the first of these workforce strategies.

Plan and Prepare

Prior to this whole pandemic lockdown, I was talking to a wide range of CEOs to take census on how their organizations are structured and learn how their businesses are set up to face disruption. Universally, they all knew their companies – i.e., what they were capable of, where they might have had deficiencies, etc. This kind of knowledge is essential.

At the end of the day, you need to perform an audit and assess your talents.

After that audit, it’s imperative that you develop a virtual plan for all your locations. If this global lockdown has taught us anything (and it’s taught us a great many things), it’s that an enterprise’s ability to shutter the office and go virtual without adversely affecting continuity can mean the difference between a business’ life or death.

The final component of this first of four workforce strategies is to engage with partners who can take up the slack. No contingency plan will work if your partners themselves are compromised.

New Environment – New Technology and Processes

Every enterprise that has had to shift to a work-from-home posture recently has found themselves in a new environment: a virtual one. This means that everything, from production pipelines to management and communication, has gone completely digital. Has every enterprise been ready for that shift? Probably not. But to make the transition, it’s important to recognize that there are two types of businesses:

  • Knowledge-Based Companies
  • Product- and Location-Based Companies

Knowledge-based companies could be architects, software development firms, lawyers, accountants – any kind of organization that has a high degree of knowledge bases, and doesn’t have a physical product.

Product-based companies are different in that they have a product that they are selling, and they need to get those products into the hands of consumers. Similarly, location-based companies are tied to something physical as well, though instead of a product, it’s where their product (or service) is sold.

Both types of businesses are asking the same questions in this new environment. There’s just an explosion of need for “How can I set up virtual work in a smarter way?” and “How can establish my company to be open all the time when there is a disruption?”

There are all kinds of technology implications and security implications, and it’s a very different road map for companies in the knowledge-based arena. For knowledge-based companies, that can include training programs for a more diversified talent pool (note: diversified in terms of location). It can also mean processes the help document work for virtualized environments.

Product- and location-based companies, like, for instance, a grocery store, face different challenges. And with COVID-19 and the newfound fear of spreading germs and viruses, those challenges center around the perils of human contact. Therefore, it’s no stretch to assume that automation and robotics will play a role in any adopting of new technology and processes.

So many people that are doing these production- and location-based jobs would probably want to have a robot do it instead, with the robots taking the risks in terms of germs and exposure. All those Amazon workers who were very resistant to automation before are going to want to revisit that notion when we get on the other side of the pandemic!

Diversification, Diversification, Diversification

The days of a business centralized around one geographic location are likely behind us, especially since it’s become clear that large swaths of geography can be suddenly put on lockdown.

As such, it’s become vital that enterprises employ a more diversified workforce – diversified in terms of where they are located in the world, diversified in terms of the technology they employ to maintain business processes, and diversified in terms of partners you can call upon to help.

I can’t stress this enough: you really need to come up with a plan to diversify yourself. You need to start moving toward a more diverse geography, limit your risks when it comes to technology, and start adopting technologies that will help your business process. And you need to make sure the partners you rely upon are not all crammed into a city that could suddenly be quarantined (which apparently could be any city in today’s world!).

Partners Who Can Flex

I’m a big fan of “Super Mario”, and “Toad” – which is the name of the mushroom – who gives Super Mario extra powers. We all need the equivalent of that mushroom, Toad, in our partners. In other words, we all need partners who can help and even take over. A lot of the people in the telcomm industry already knew this, as they have partners who can step in and provide services when disruption happens. But this practice must now spill over into other industries.

After all, if you are relying on a call center in India as your backup, or a virtual tech support team out of the Philippines to take over when your stateside tech team goes down, what are you going to do if both India and the Philippines shut everything down for 30 days? That kind of scenario might have seem far-fetched a month ago, but it’s a reality now – so what would you do?

At the end of the day, you need partners who can flex up.

These four workforce strategies will help any business stay on track, or get back on track.

Ultimately, the winners in all of this will be the ones who start adapting now. It’s time to take advantage of the new world!

Google Is Eradicating Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the globe, scientists are increasingly turning to technology for answers. From genomic sequencing to the use of robotics, we are exploring ways that technology might help us. With this in mind, Google might actually be one of the companies on the forefront of these endeavors. As part of the company’s Verily unit, Google’s Debug Project is looking to combat specific mosquito illnesses. And based on the most recent field results, the project is making serious headway.

Of course, COVID-19 is not related to mosquito illnesses as far as anyone knows. This particular strain of coronavirus appears to have originated in bats and reached humans via an intermediate animal host. However, Google’s use of technology to combat disease of any kind highlights how intimately related technology and science are. By appreciating that these types of pursuits reflect businesses’ social responsibility, Google serves as a role model. Thus, exploring the Debug Project and its success offers a very worthwhile pursuit.

A bunch of mosquitoes trying to get inside
The world may be preoccupied with coronavirus, but mosquito-borne illness is still a killer.

The Debug Project – A Social Responsibility Mission

If you are not familiar with it, Verily is Google’s public health unit. It was launched years ago as part of a social responsibility mission that the company wanted to pursue. In 2015, Verily launched its Debug Project, which was designed to target mosquito illnesses. Throughout the world, more than 10,000 people die every day from specific types of mosquito illnesses. These include disease like dengue fever and the Ziki virus. In pursuing this mission, Verily recruited mosquito biologists, software engineers, and automation experts. Their combined expertise was used to develop novel approaches to combat these mosquito illnesses.

In essence, the Debug Project utilizes a strategy called the sterile insect technique. The goal is to develop and release sterile male insects so that the entire insect population dies off. Thus, Verily applied this approach to mosquitos by developing sterile male mosquitos. In last three years, the Debug Project has released 80,000 sterile males a day around Fresno, California, during summer months. That’s nearly 15 million each year! The released male mosquitos then mate with female mosquitos, which produce no offspring. And because only female mosquitos bite and spread mosquito illnesses, disease rates in theory should decline.

“Once you try to start rearing hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes a week, you run into all sorts of problems. Mosquitoes may be everywhere, but they are really finicky and difficult to grow.” – Bradley White, Lead Scientist of the Debug Project

A Project Not Without Challenges

Sterile insect technique is not necessarily a new method considered for controlling mosquito illnesses. What is novel about Google’s social responsibility project is its use of technology to scale the project toward success. Automation technologies have been used to better separate male from female mosquitoes. Likewise, software and data analytics are utilized to determine where to best release sterile male mosquitoes into the environment. Scientists infect lab mosquitoes with a bacterium, Wolbachia, to make them sterile. Then, emerging disruptive technology is used to expedite the process and scale it to size. Without these additional innovations, the likelihood such a project would be successful would be quite low. But with these additions, the Debug Project has realized tremendous results in the Fresno area.

Based on sample collections in the Fresno area over the last couple of years, this technique reduced female mosquito populations by 93 percent. As a result, Google is now ready to explore larger population areas, especially where mosquito illnesses are prevalent. Of course, some have expressed concerns about the ecologic effects of the Debug Project. But based on detailed scientific analyses, the impact of this approach for mosquitoes in negligible. Mosquitoes are not a significant food source for other species. Likewise, they do not pollenate plants or offer other major benefits. This is what makes the pursuit of this social responsibility project so attractive.

“Field studies allow us to test our discoveries and technologies in challenging, real-world conditions and collect the necessary evidence to bring them to a broader scale. We hope to demonstrate success with Debug Fresno that will benefit the local communities working with us in this study and later other communities globally…” – Verily statement

Partnering with Other Nations in Social Responsibility Efforts

Naturally, Verily’s current success provides hope for other areas of the world that has a higher incidence of mosquito illnesses. The unit has already partnered with the Singapore National Environmental Agency in conducting larger trials in that country. Likewise, Google hopes to have talks with countries in the Caribbean. And ultimately, expansion of its social responsibility project plans to occur in other regions like South America. Based on the positive results to date, Verily hopes to scale the project to an even larger degree. Regions of the world with a higher number of endemic mosquito illnesses are likely to benefit in time.

The advantages these partnership efforts could offer are substantial. Currently, these nations rely on pesticides presently in an attempt to control mosquito illnesses. However, pesticides are toxic in nature and harmful to the environment. Likewise, their effect is short-lived in terms of suppressing mosquito populations. And of course, the potential for mosquitoes to develop resistance to pesticide formulations poses additional problems. In contrast, Verily’s approach is a more sustainable practice. This is what makes this social responsibility project so attractive overall.

A Role Model for Other Social Responsibility Projects

Google’s approach to social responsibility is truly impressive and can serve as a template for other bold businesses. By leveraging its insights and capacities, it has been able to scale proven scientific practices to combat disease. In the process, it has introduced a cost-effective strategy that potentially allows greater protection to millions. While the Debug Project is relevant only to mosquito illnesses, the same approach could address other public health concerns. In a time where we need major health solutions, the Debug Project is a breath of fresh air.

Mental Wellness During the COVID-19 Crisis – Mental Health Apps to the Rescue

A third of the world is in some type of self-isolation lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The effect this is having on social and economic activities cannot be understated. But concurrently, these lockdowns pose serious risks to individuals from a health and wellness perspective. This is particularly true in terms of mental health. Experts note that stress, anxiety, and depression are all likely to rise in the wake of the crisis. And this not only involves those in self-isolation lockdowns but also healthcare workers, first responders, the elderly, and kids.

Understanding this, the benefits of meditation can offer some protection to people during this time of stress. Research and science have shown that the benefits of meditation are both real and lasting. In addition, wellness apps are becoming increasingly popular today, especially as we become more active on virtual and digital platforms. This is the reason that mental health apps have appeal. It is also the reason partnerships around these mental health apps are forming.

“What we’re really seeing is a global experience of anxiety, and how that’s impacting our day-to-day lives…Mental health issues often appear after the crisis, not during.” – Kelli Finley, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The Potential Role of Mental Health Apps

Over the last few years, mental health apps have been offered in a number of settings. One of the most recent trends have been mental health apps for college students with related concerns. At the same time, wellness apps that enhance mental wellness are also on the rise. Specifically, Headspace is one of the premier mental health apps used today around the world. The company is a global leader in mindfulness and meditation app and has over 62 million users in 190 countries. And it caters not only to individuals but also to business, education systems, and children. In fact, Headspace has partnered with over 600 companies to promote the benefits of meditation.

A mental health app with the word symptom misspelled
It’s hard to ignore the benefits of meditation and mental health apps during a lockdown!

Given the stress, anxiety, and depression effects with the COVID-19 crisis, mental health apps have a strong potential role. Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state of New York has certainly recognized this potential. Recently announced, a partnership between New York and Headspace will occur in an effort to advance the benefits of meditation. As a result, Headspace will offer their meditation content to all New Yorkers for free. Likewise, all public healthcare workers will be able to enjoy Headspace Plus without charge. And businesses and educators will have access to headspace meditation and informational content specific to these areas. This will be in an effort to promote the benefits of meditation in helping people deal with the pandemic’s effects.

“…We’re not built to be isolated for long periods of time without human contact or to see the large numbers of people getting sick around us. Now more than ever it’s critical that New Yorkers stay healthy both physically and mentally.” – Governor Andrew Cuomo, State of New York

The Benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness

The impact of the current pandemic crisis on mental wellness is substantial. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, nearly half of all individuals describe negative mental health effects. Roughly one in 5 state these effects have had a major impact on their overall wellness. And this may represent only the tip of the iceberg. Experts note that the vast majority of mental health problems often surface after the crisis is over. If that is the case, efforts need to be in place now to reduce these negative impacts. Mental health apps offer one such approach that has been shown to help.

One of the reasons that Headspace has been so successful is because it leads the industry in evidence-based research. Its mindfulness and mental health apps have demonstrated the benefits of meditation in numerous ways. In terms of mental wellness, mental health apps reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Likewise, it also boosts learning, memory, and emotional control. And other benefits of meditation include delayed cognitive aging, lower blood pressure, and enhanced sleep. All of these effects are noteworthy in our current crisis because they have the potential to promote mental health resilience. In other words, mental health apps serve to help us protect our mental wellness during times of stress.

“These are such uncertain times for everyone all over the world. It’s difficult to even know where to begin to address the extraordinary stress, anxiety and trauma that individuals and communities are experiencing… Now more than ever, it’s essential to look after our physical and mental health, both for our own benefit, and for those around us.” – Andy Puddicombe, Headspace Co-Founder and Former Buddhist monk

A Call to Action for Bold Businesses

With billions of people in lockdown, the market for a number of virtual offerings is growing. This not only relates to mental health apps but to all sorts of wellness apps and digital therapeutics. But in terms of mental health apps, Headspace is in an excellent position to make bold differences. Certainly, it is doing so in New York, which has been heavily affected by the coronavirus. But the company is also promoting the benefits of meditation in other countries as well. These pursuits highlight that Headspace is committed to being part of the solution in this global time of need.

In addition to working with the state of New York, Headspace recently partnered with the U.K.’s National Health Service. The company is offering 1.2 million workers access to their mental health apps through this joint endeavor. In addition, Headspace offers its Headspace to Educators free access in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. Thus, it is clear the company is committed to its mission of bringing health and happiness to the world. As a bold business, Headspace demonstrates initiatives focused on social responsibility and advancement. And in this time of uncertainty, such pursuits are truly admirable and needed.

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