Like it or not, we have heard about it everywhere: the impact of the coronavirus on the economy and on the way companies operate. To develop, you have to stay positive and keep renewing yourself, all the more so in difficult times. Today we want to share with you how the pandemic has affected Think2Make, offer a few tips and show you that the coronavirus and innovation are not incompatible.
Communication turned upside down (or rather adapted)
Like most people, our team found itself working from home. It sounds simple at first, but we soon realised that we needed to communicate regularly to keep up a good dynamic. Don’t underestimate a constructive get-together with your team, whether it is a work meeting or a moment of pure relaxation: it will keep everyone motivated and confident.
New opportunities
Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we decided to stay positive and move forward, and that is what we advise everyone to do! Of course, this takes more energy for some companies than others, depending on how hard COVID-19 has hit their sector. But remember that we are all in a similar situation, and now is the time to help one another. You will always find someone ready to help you get back on your feet, whether it is the people around you or professionals whose job it is.
At Think2Make, we decided to take matters into our own hands and see what opportunities we could create. We concluded that offering different kinds of online courses was a good solution. It lets us continue the work we care about and also help freelancers, start-ups and companies in need. We now offer online training to facilitate innovation (for companies of all sizes) and online workshops designed for entrepreneurs. We are delighted to have already inspired several participants, and we hope others will recover from this crisis with our support.
Lockdown easing
The good weather is coming, people are going out again and everything seems back to normal, or almost. The crisis has been a major shock, and there are still many opportunities, whatever your field. We also know that change is only just beginning and that it will take creativity to go even further. To help you, here are a few practical tips you can apply at any time. Whatever the size of your company, they can help you innovate on internal and external projects alike.
- Brainstorming session: holding sessions all the time will only keep you running on the spot. A well-organised brainstorming session, however, can lead to unexpected and fruitful results. So organise one and encourage your whole team to take part.
- Positivity: this may sound like a sugary cliché, but it is one of the most important points. Positivity should not be confused with being unrealistic: staying positive means that even in times of uncertainty and difficulty, you keep at it and remember that, with the necessary effort, your goals can be reached.
- Team building: now more than ever, your team must stick together. This calls for constant attention, because of the distance and the few chances to meet. As each employee has fewer opportunities to talk with colleagues, some tasks can become more complicated, and a lack of communication quickly leads to misinterpretation or misunderstanding. So make sure everyone can regularly exchange a few words, whether over an online drink or in an important meeting.
- The people around you, and more: don’t assume that nobody can understand what your company is going through, or that nobody can help you. On the one hand, an outside view always brings you much more than you imagine, even from a professional in another field, and it will help you generate new ideas. On the other hand, everyone experiences this situation differently, and above all everyone needs to be creative and innovate to move forward. Combining your thoughts with those of others can create new opportunities, or even lead to more relevant projects.
Aiming even higher
You may be thinking: “These tips are all very well, but how do I find inspiration?” Like creativity, inspiration can be worked on. And you don’t need to develop complex or extraordinary projects to be innovative. As the Covid Innovations site we want to share with you shows, hundreds of projects saw the light of day during the pandemic. Some may even seem very simple, but someone still had to think of them. And the most important thing to remember: if they did it, why not you?
Remember, Think2Make is here to support you, so get in touch at any time. Together we will first work out where you stand, then see how to steer you in the direction you need.
Remember: innovating during a pandemic is entirely possible. Good luck to you all during this special time!
