As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic and President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing that most of South Africa will drop to level 3 of the coronavirus national lockdown, it’s belived that businesses will never be the same again.

With the spread of COVID-19, outlooks on the way people live, work and play will need to change, and in order for businesses to survive, this change needs to be immediate.

For this to happen a threat adaptive culture including the need for candour to address obstacles that organisations may be experiencing that will hinder progress.

Most businesses will attempt to return to ‘normal’ during a phase known as the ‘Danger Gap’ – this is the time between returning to social interaction and widely available testing and vaccination.

Helene Vermaak, Business Director of corporate culture experts The Human Edge says businesses will need to develop work cultures around COVID-19 when employees return to work.

“In order to do so, candid communication will be needed to make quick, effective decisions, leaving employees feeling protected and to keep the business going.”

Vermaak says when it comes to having the hard discussions about the new future of the business, candour needs to be exercised.

“In the survey, participants shortened their response times to less than a month when asked what would happen if candour was exercised during these discussions. When employees, no matter their position in an organisation, are able to talk to one another without the fear of backlash and rebuttal, this creates a safe environment where important decisions can be made.”

Vermaak says in a threat adaptive culture, when it comes to combatting the spread of COVID-19 there is no room for complacency and silence and leaders within an organisation need to adapt and make crucial decisions quickly.

Faizel Patel 

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)