CEO Blog - Connecting, enabling, supporting
Who would ever have believed that many of us would now be running our businesses mostly from our kitchen tables, bedrooms and home offices as we follow local governments recommendations and demands to socially distance. We have even got a new language, when did you ever last use the phrases ‘social distancing’ or ‘self isolating’. We do indeed live in strange times.
This week has been all about connecting, planning, enabling and supporting. Since the first time the Coronavirus appeared in China we have been preparing. Testing our systems and remote working capabilities was a key part of being prepared, it meant we could increase capacity in readiness for when we would have to go fully or mostly home working. That came on Tuesday evening when we decamped from the UK offices and became home workers for the foreseeable future. This is an increasing pattern we are following around the world. We had already done this in the U.S , Belgium and the Netherlands. Since then we have been following governments advice around the world and working from home wherever it is advised.
This new way of working hasn’t stopped our wonderful Harvey Nash family around the world from doing its finest work. Keeping connected to each other, our clients, candidates and contractors. Every day, in fact many times through the day there have been so many stories of where we are delivering on our promises to our clients, winning new work, reassuring our candidates and contractors. We are keeping connected with each other, with great examples I am reading every day of how teams are keeping healthy, focused and energised. I couldn’t be more proud of the way everyone has stepped up.
I was so happy to be part of the Central Europe virtual kick off on Wednesday afternoon. With over 100 people joining via Microsoft Teams from Germany, Poland and Switzerland the energy was electric. The stories of projects accomplished, client feedback which makes you burst with pride. Thank you for making Wednesday afternoon so inspiring.
The social channels are alight with Harvey Nash Group businesses sharing ideas, news and support. There are some great examples such as Jonathan Potter (Manchester, UK) daily video with his daughter Penelope which makes me smile. There are many such great examples of the spirit of Harvey Nash Group.
I meet via Teams every evening with the Exco team to share news from around the businesses and across the world. We share ideas and it’s a great way of ensuring we all remain aligned and connected. At a time when we are so geographically distanced I doubt we have ever been more close.
Today we launch our daily news journal written by you for all of us. Very soon we will be launching a social platform for all of us around the world. More to come on that soon.
So, before I sign off for the week I want to wish everyone a good weekend. Keep safe and healthy and keep on being you, you are amazing.