The time of COVID-19 has been one of uncertainty, fear, and frustration – but also a time characterised by resilience, strength, and unity. I am amazed and inspired by the human spirit that has rallied together globally, nationally, and within our microcosms to support one another. 

At INN8, we too have been challenged to think differently about engaging and connecting with colleagues and clients. With always-on technology, we have the ability to virtually connect with anyone, anywhere, with none of the usual concerns of traffic, geographical location, or distance.

Thankfully, our goal has always been to create an environment where different people with a digitally-first mindset feel at home – and this set of values that over the past few months have allowed us to adapt and be digitally fully functional.

So how do you cultivate a culture that allows you to be adaptable? Here are some points to note:

1. Living and modelling your values

Being deliberate about what your values are and modelling them thereby leveraging your culture.

One of our values are ‘We are in it together’; we are one team, collaborating and leveraging our collective brilliance. During the course of the pandemic, we have been deliberate about creating opportunities to come together, engage, and collaborate.

How have we done this?

• Daily team meetings and weekly business webinars, as well training for practical tools to enhance resilience, deal with fear and uncertainty
• Regular, smaller-focused virtual sessions are conducted by the executive team with staff to hear first-hand what their struggles, challenges and triumphs are. In these sessions, staff questions are encouraged and answered, and have been given permission to plan and manage their day in a way that allows them to deliver but also manage their home situations. They are empowered to put boundaries in place that help them manage and cope with the pandemic. Providing them a self-care day where they are able to take time off and reboot
• Sharing weekly videos/ articles from staff to the whole business on how they have experienced the pandemic and what they have done to cope. We are all in similar situations, but our experiences are very different. Through these articles we are afforded a glimpse and insight into a colleague’s life that is both inspiring and humane. Through these initiatives we have come together, connected and strengthened our culture

It is possible that your business has adapted very well during this pandemic – perhaps even better than you envisaged. Build on this by communicating to your staff what you have done and look at other behaviours or initiatives you could implement. Test one of the above initiatives. This will strengthen your culture and allow you to cope better with what lies ahead.

2. Recruitment practices

Hiring individuals that are resilient and adaptable. These individuals have the ability to navigate change, manage multiple requests, and adapt to new situations with fresh ideas and innovative approaches. They are able to remain positive irrespective of what is happening around them. They have the ability to remain calm and dignified in their engagements. When hiring from external or promoting internally apply these competencies to your hiring practice. If your culture is currently not resilient and adaptable be open and honest with the prospective candidate and share this with them. Let them know that you would be expecting them to function/ act as a champion/sponsor of these behaviours.

3. Rituals and celebrating successes

COVID-19 has compelled us to relook how we are doing things and you might even have changed some of your practices. Rituals are a powerful driver of culture. They engage staff around the things that matter the most to a business, instilling a sense of shared purpose and experience. There are different kinds of rituals that exist, rituals around celebration and appreciation, story-telling rituals or rituals that instill a specific practice.

Rituals allow staff members within a business to contribute and reinforces the culture. It increases staff morale, engagement and fosters a supportive culture. Whatever your rituals don’t forget to celebrate individual and team contributions or creating opportunities to bring your teams together.

Research shows that even when you’ve created a culture that is strategically aligned, it won’t help over the long run unless you also develop a culture that is adaptive in real time. Cultural adaptability reflects your organisation’s ability to innovate, experiment, and quickly take advantage of new opportunities.

Culture must therefore be continually be cultivated in order to focus on the most important initiatives irrespective of challenges and changing conditions presented by the pandemic.