Family Matters

While some may be more buffeted than others, COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way everyone around the world works and lives. The old cliché of tech startups having the monopoly on remote work no longer applies, even the stodgiest of companies can now lay claim to a virtual ecosystem. Supply chains are impacted regardless of industry. And the emotional impact on workers is not exclusive to a few; it is everyone.

I was listening to tunes on my way into work today, a drive that was quieter and dare I say, more humane than the typical day. My mind was on the current events surrounding COVID-19 and the implications for my new business, Bench. I was thinking about the last time I launched a business, a gourmet chocolate company selling high-end products to hospitality. I launched in August of 2007. Use your imagination for how that endeavor fared.

If we listen to the infectious disease experts and medical professionals being interviewed in the news, the takeaway is that we still don’t have a clear understanding of the full impact of COVID-19. Witnessing what is happening around us leads to thinking about things in a way we may not have thought before: Should I touch the UPS package I just received? Who touched this gas pump before me? How do I support my partner and family while still doing my job (If I even have one in a week)? As a business leader, you might also be thinking: how will we maintain product distribution? How will I make payroll? How long can we continue without layoffs?

When the dust settles in the coming months, humanity is going to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Life will go back to normal. You and I will get back on airplanes and start crisscrossing the country to advance our efforts to change the world one product, service, or subscription at a time. However, if we’re self-aware enough, we may also take a bit of this experience with us as well. A bit more humanity. A bit more compassion. A bit more hygiene. But I would also challenge you to take something else from this experience: an embrace of personal and professional vulnerability.

The concepts of decision rights and governance often trigger an eye-roll for many people. In fact, odds are, several of you may attempt to stop reading this right now (don't lie). I'm asking you to just wait. Governance and decision rights serve as unbelievable catalysts for addressing operational challenges, dysfunctional cultures, and poor organizational health and can be a transformational exercise when done correctly. Let me explain...