In a world of ever-changing ambiguity and uncertainty, executives have to face two challenges: excellent performance and people development. Where many managers think those endeavours are “competing”, this author believes they are “completing”. GET DOWN TO BUSINESS argues.
That was a rhetorical question, don’t try to answer it. There’s but one answer to that: YESSS.
As a matter of fact, I’d like to think of crisis as an opportunity! A God-given chance to clean up the house, fix your own mess, revisit your processes (Do you have them? Are they documented?), make sure that your outputs are meeting customers’ needs, ensure all employees’ objectives are aligned with senior management vision and mission statement…. Shall I go on? These points will keep both hands full for a while.
A good chunk of those issues listed here will require creative training programmes to address them, while keeping all eyes on the ball. But as soon as I mention “training”, I get the negative reactions you’re probably running in your head right now. But other than development opportunities using your net services like Zoom and the likes, you could still do more effective face-to-face sessions. Well, what about coronavirus, social distancing, and the rest of it?
Let me share my experience dealing with this. I recently had few face-to-face sessions with major and medium-sized companies in the oil, media, and trade fields. The sessions went smoothly achieving their objectives and finished: all safe and sound.
Let me summarise the key points that lead to that or what I call:
Covid-19 Training Room Checklist – Setting up a safe training environment.
- Minimise the number of participants. (If restaurants and cinema houses can do it, you can, too!)
- Provide clear signs in training rooms, washrooms, and break-out areas, so that all participants know what to do and why. You could even use masking tapes on the floor to mark walkways.
- Scatter entrances to the training room (if possible) and distribute break times over the day to avoid many people in one room. Apply different attendance times. (in case you are a training centre, or having more than one session simultaneously)
- Supply sanitiser bottles and masks at the entrance and inside the training room.
- Ensure safe distance between tables.
- Leave enough room by the door, for people coming in or going out. Leave the door open whenever possible, so that the handle is hardly used. Make sure the door does not squeak!
- Ask people to bring their own packed lunch, to minimise mixing together during lunch and breaks. If you are providing lunch, make sure it’s all sealed and use a reliable caterer.
- Keep all cleaning products and tools handy to wipe down tables, handles, rails, and anything that is regularly touched.
- Review your training materials to ensure that all activities will keep people apart. It is something that is often overlooked.
- Be flexible with participants’ requests for extra safety – listen and adapt to their needs.
- If possible, leave windows open during session, or at least in break and lunch times.
- Make sure the overall spirit is positive, open, and fun!
Sherif Attar, an independent management consultant/trainer and organisation development authority, delivers seminars in the US, Europe, Middle East and the Far East.
