Lockdown aftermath: Survival of the hybrids
WILLIAM TULIMEAMENO HANGULA
Covid-19 has undeniably pushed forward the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where workers are no long required to be hands-on but are required to be computer savvy and mobile in terms of working from home and independently. That is, on top of having other crucial social and technical skills and so on.
The lockdown period, in line with the government’s state of emergency, has surely caused deep holes in the reserves of companies. With the hope that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic would lessen soon, most companies have decided not to take drastic cost-cutting measures but rather endure the short period of cash-flow hardship in order to resume business on a strong capacity base. With some of the white-collar service providers having to work from home during this period, employers will have had enough time to reflect on business efficiency and optimisation, perhaps realising how it is still possible to fully function but at a much lower operational cost. It won’t be surprising to hear that managements are busy engineering cost-reduction plans that including laying off “redundant” employees and only recalling hybrids (those who are accustomed to working independently), in the hope of recovering from negative balances caused by the adverse economic effects of Covid-19.
As an employee, it is important to realise that such a storm is on its way and probably inevitable. In order to sail through and come out strong on the other side, one needs to convert oneself into a hybrid. For example, as a manager, I would retain the confident, self-driven, technical and social hybrid Saara rather than Josh, who is only good at numbers.
It is perhaps also a good time for employees to reflect on their professional competences and start taking the necessary steps to improve their skills arsenal. Volunteering to take on tasks, improving communication skills, pursuing an online course, broadening your network, learning to become a team player, and ensuring physical health through exercise and diet, are some of the necessary tasks and skills to attain during the lockdown period. The pandemic has surely exposed the shortcomings of most taught professionals and will open the doors to the multi-skilled, technology-savvy and highly capable workforce. As we move on from the lockdown, make sure you are not an afterthought. Keep up!
* William Tulimeameno Hangula is a civil engineer at Windhoek Consulting Engineers.
Covid-19 has undeniably pushed forward the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where workers are no long required to be hands-on but are required to be computer savvy and mobile in terms of working from home and independently. That is, on top of having other crucial social and technical skills and so on.
The lockdown period, in line with the government’s state of emergency, has surely caused deep holes in the reserves of companies. With the hope that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic would lessen soon, most companies have decided not to take drastic cost-cutting measures but rather endure the short period of cash-flow hardship in order to resume business on a strong capacity base. With some of the white-collar service providers having to work from home during this period, employers will have had enough time to reflect on business efficiency and optimisation, perhaps realising how it is still possible to fully function but at a much lower operational cost. It won’t be surprising to hear that managements are busy engineering cost-reduction plans that including laying off “redundant” employees and only recalling hybrids (those who are accustomed to working independently), in the hope of recovering from negative balances caused by the adverse economic effects of Covid-19.
As an employee, it is important to realise that such a storm is on its way and probably inevitable. In order to sail through and come out strong on the other side, one needs to convert oneself into a hybrid. For example, as a manager, I would retain the confident, self-driven, technical and social hybrid Saara rather than Josh, who is only good at numbers.
It is perhaps also a good time for employees to reflect on their professional competences and start taking the necessary steps to improve their skills arsenal. Volunteering to take on tasks, improving communication skills, pursuing an online course, broadening your network, learning to become a team player, and ensuring physical health through exercise and diet, are some of the necessary tasks and skills to attain during the lockdown period. The pandemic has surely exposed the shortcomings of most taught professionals and will open the doors to the multi-skilled, technology-savvy and highly capable workforce. As we move on from the lockdown, make sure you are not an afterthought. Keep up!
* William Tulimeameno Hangula is a civil engineer at Windhoek Consulting Engineers.
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