The New Face of Business in Covid

If anything, maybe you too are getting tired of hearing the term ‘new normal.’ While many people took the pandemic day-by-day for a while, waiting for life as we knew it to circle back, the reality is we’re kind of starting from scratch. As many offices come up with contingency and re-opening plans, professionals re-imagine job applying and interviewing via Zoom, and everyone adjusts to life through a COVID lens, it’s vital to accept that many aspects of conducting business may be impacted for the foreseeable future. Take, for instance, the handshake. Considering it’s not recommended to go within six feet of another human, greeting someone this way isn’t safe either.

So how will we network? What should be the business greeting for now? How can companies attract new business during this pandemic? There are some old and new truths that need to be embraced during this ‘new normal’ (that term again!).

Bowing and nodding could be the new handshake – Try using symbolic gestures or mindfulness practices to replace the old handshake. One idea could be bowing, nodding or hand movements that are commonly used in yoga. If you’re familiar with conducting business in Asia, you know that bowing is already considered a way to illustrate respect, so carrying this custom to the west is an easy way to cross borders. Another option may be placing your hand over your heart as a way to say ‘Hello’ when meeting a colleague from afar. While these shifts may feel strange to those accustomed to more traditional business environments, we have already seen how quickly social customs can change under challenging circumstances.

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Video conferencing and networking on the rise - Before 2020, video conferencing wasn’t widely used across all industries. But, this year has made this skill that much more imperative. Even once we are able to congregate in person again, video is here to stay. Part of this is due to the versatility that it offers: connecting with your current employees in a personal way, screening possible candidates for opportunities without putting them at risk, or in the future, without requiring them to commute in, and so on. Pre-pandemic, did you frequently have lunch dates with friends? Or check-ins with mentors over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee? Those small touchpoints may not have seemed significant, but they challenged you to remain relevant within your field, and they still matter now but adapting those to not-in-person connections.

Having an online presence will become truly vital - Your LinkedIn and online portfolio are in significant need of an update if you intend to land a job during this unpredictable time. Maintaining a substantial online presence will be important as people look for ways to validate who you are. For business professionals and Entrepreneurs, one should think of a few professional contacts who share similar interests and challenges and would be willing to show up regularly and set up a monthly catch-up with that group to share ideas and best practices for current times and network smartly.