The Key to Unlock New Business Opportunities Through Better Communication

Recently I was a guest on a client’s podcast about — you guessed it — the impact of COVID-19 on business. Specifically, we were talking about navigating change and uncertainty, which can be especially challenging nowadays for companies in industries that aren’t digital-first.

Naturally, the conversation turned to communication and collaboration, because that’s ultimately the point of digital transformation. Forging close connections despite distance is both an art and a science — one that has become top of mind for everyone who is working from home.

By now, the mechanics of it are coming together. We’re used to having meetings via video conferencing, and virtual collaboration tools are helping teams get the job done. (Although I always recommend not slacking in your online business chat. Be conscious, purposeful, and specific to foster shared understanding, aka relationship-building communication.)

With this new flexibility comes new responsibility — and opportunities. We’re working differently now (some companies more than others, depending on their pre-pandemic remote work policies), and customers are in the same boat. This opens the door for everyone in your organization to consider the next steps in navigating the new normal.

You might have noticed the unofficial slogan of the pandemic: “We’re all in this together.” The Great Pause is also a great equalizer. Time to take that perspective to heart, and make sure your internal channels of communication are open and welcoming.

Everyone counts

Wherever you sit in an organization, regardless of the role that you play, you have to think about value in terms of both capture and creation. How can you contribute in a meaningful way? What can you take in that helps you grow and evolve? And then collectively, how can you take that precious fuel that you generate internally and use it to add value to your customers’ lives?

These were all questions swirling around my podcast interviewer’s mind after she switched off the recording. In the post-interview wind-down, we casually chatted about her company’s podcast, which she took up from her apartment after shelter-in-place orders and managed to keep going by…