In all honesty, I wasn’t a fan of remote work. I believed in-person office collaboration was essential to the success of our business—and all business in general. I was wrong. I’ve been deeply inspired by how all our employees across the globe pivoted so well to working from home. In staff surveys and other interviews, we see they feel more productive, family-focused, and more connected to each other and management than ever before. Because working from home has made our people healthier, happier and more productive, we’re extending our work-from-home venture through the end of 2020.
-— Jared Turner, president and COO, Young Living Essential Oils
While I’m never surprised to see our team rise to a challenge, I was surprised to see just how creative our employees could get. On our weekly Zoom meetings, I’ve seen my coworkers pull pranks, display their TikTok prowess, and delight the senses with cooking contests. To inspire our sales field, I’ve been touched at the ways our employees have tapped into Associates’ need for heartfelt social connection, stretched their horizons with Zoom training, and worked with the 501(c)(3) Kynect Foundation to help those who need it most. Global pandemic or not, at Kynect, the best idea still wins!
-— Carolyn Lam, SVP, General Counsel, WeKynect
It was early March when I began to hear that the possibility of a protracted era of social distancing was a distinct possibility. But direct selling didn’t retract; the floodgates of receptivity to DSA’s invitations to share ideas, best practices and insights opened wide. I’m not surprised by how direct selling united during these challenging times. Still, the openness to share the strategies and tactics that work and the willingness for companies large and small to help each other has made me proud of this community’s strength, creativity and resiliency.
-— Melissa Brunton, senior VP, Education and Meeting Services, DSA
Confirmation bias has reared its ugly head during this time. I’m surprised at how political conservatives have “tended” to dismiss facts and science in favor of personal freedoms and personal incomes. I’m surprised at how political liberals have “tended” to ignore the economic facts and financial devastation in favor of physical safety. We’re locked in a catch-22. If we go back to work, we spread the virus. If we stay home, we go broke. Our survival requires that we work together to solve the problem. This is a “one team, one dream” problem. Success has to be more important than “being right.” We won’t solve this by which party wins future elections. The virus is not political. It’s smarter than that. Are we?
-— Richard Brooke, president and CEO, RichardBrooke.com
This started as a confusing, stressful time where many were panicking and scrambling. Over the past weeks, I’ve watched, and experienced, transitions from angst to gratitude. Getting creative and finding ways to spend precious time with our people, creating experiences and nurturing relationships that might not otherwise have been possible. In many ways today is no less stressful or confusing than when this all started, but with so many of us realizing that #momentsofjoi come from being, not having, and we’re scooping those moments up. That shift over these trying weeks has been most surprising and comforting to me.
-— Tracy DeLisle, VP Sales, Joiya
Any time in history when we have been faced with a national crisis that kills so many of us, we have always banded together as a nation. At least in the early stages. This time around we remain divided, which represents an opportunity for our companies to show the good we can do by bringing diverse groups of people together and building communities. Let’s show the world the good we can do.
-— Michel Bayan, CEO, DirecTech Labs
Link to share this article: https://socialsellingnews.com/link/what-has-proved-most-surprising-to-you-during-covid-19-lockdown-3748/