Lessons from Covid-19: Leaders have to re-imagine biz, says Vipin Sondhi

A manufacturing business is ultimately about people. There is no substitute to face-to-face interaction, he said

The new work life

One never imagined a situation where we could work from home for as long as four months. It’s not perfect but possible. 

A manufacturing business is ultimately about people. There is no substitute to face-to-face interaction. I miss that immensely. For that’s where relationships get built, and how one can feel the pulse of the value chain and respond appropriately.

The limitations aside, my daily schedule vis-à-vis a regular day at the HQ remains relatively unchanged. It starts with planning the day with my office staff. And then the schedule rolls on, albeit all of it virtually.

Homebound, and how

 

My office timings remain the same. While on the treadmill, I watch YouTube videos on golf and violin. Finally, having lunch with the family is a huge bonus.

While technology for instant communication has been available, our receptivity to virtual communication has greatly enhanced. Also, “work from anywhere” as an option will be more acceptable. Travel, especially overseas, will become relevant only if absolutely necessary.

The lesson

The impact of Covid has challenged “thought” — on the importance of public health, on concerns of migrant labour, on the threats to national security, and on the fragility of the economy and its impact on business.

Leadership will have to rethink and re-imagine business. Disruption was taking place anyway. It has now got fast-forwarded. The need for social consciousness in business has only become enhanced, and the importance of remaining optimistic while acting realistically is more relevant than ever.

Physical distancing is the best recommended remedy as of now. This has to be compensated with extensive communication, preferably over-communication, to address or pre-empt concerns that could lead to anxiety.

A huge lesson I learnt was watching my colleagues reaching out, individually and collectively, to the community in many ways. It was because they wanted to and had a higher purpose. That 

of humanity.