The pandemic offers a chance to reinvigorate your workplace culture. A new BC Chamber program looks to help businesses adapt and compete in COVID and beyond.
For business owners just trying to survive the COVID-19 crisis, workplace culture can often fall by the wayside when there are bills piling up at the end of the month. But, according to Dr. Mark Colgate, professor at the University of Victoria’s (UVic) Gustavson School of Business and one of the visionaries behind the Whistler Experience program, it’s even more important to foster a positive workplace through times of turbulence.
“Obviously we’re in a pandemic and it’s difficult to see beyond that,” said Colgate. “What the research shows is the organizations that come out [of major disruptions] ahead are the ones that stay calm, the ones that can see through it, the ones that understand what we need to do now so we can come out further ahead. One of those things is to look at what you’re doing as an organization, double down on your workplace culture, and help your employees be even more effective in their roles.”
Colgate is teaming up with fellow professor Brian Leacock and the BC Chamber to offer a six-week program called Building Resilience to Thrive that is aimed at helping small- and medium-sized business owners adapt their model to the pandemic, re-engage customers, and tweak their workplace culture.
“Of course there are a lot of different training programs out there, but we wanted to offer a more unique program that’s more about the business owner themselves,” explained Dan Baxter, director of policy development, government and stakeholder relations for the BC Chamber. “At the end of the day, when you’re short-staffed, productivity is critical,” he said. “You can’t expect your staff will be more productive by just hoping they’ll work harder in the whirlwind. Even if you dedicate five or 10 minutes at the beginning of every shift to getting the team together or having a one-on-one with an individual, that five-minute conversation can be incredibly powerful.”
The Building Resilience to Thrive program is offered in three rounds: from Nov. 3 to Dec. 8, Jan. 12 to Feb. 16, and Feb. 24 to March 31. Registration is $35 for chamber members and $70 for non-members. Learn more and register at bcchamber.org/events/building-resilience-to-thr...
For business owners just trying to survive the COVID-19 crisis, workplace culture can often fall by the wayside when there are bills piling up at the end of the month. But, according to Dr. Mark Colgate, professor at the University of Victoria’s (UVic) Gustavson School of Business and one of the visionaries behind the Whistler Experience program, it’s even more important to foster a positive workplace through times of turbulence.
“Obviously we’re in a pandemic and it’s difficult to see beyond that,” said Colgate. “What the research shows is the organizations that come out [of major disruptions] ahead are the ones that stay calm, the ones that can see through it, the ones that understand what we need to do now so we can come out further ahead. One of those things is to look at what you’re doing as an organization, double down on your workplace culture, and help your employees be even more effective in their roles.”
Colgate is teaming up with fellow professor Brian Leacock and the BC Chamber to offer a six-week program called Building Resilience to Thrive that is aimed at helping small- and medium-sized business owners adapt their model to the pandemic, re-engage customers, and tweak their workplace culture.
“Of course there are a lot of different training programs out there, but we wanted to offer a more unique program that’s more about the business owner themselves,” explained Dan Baxter, director of policy development, government and stakeholder relations for the BC Chamber. “At the end of the day, when you’re short-staffed, productivity is critical,” he said. “You can’t expect your staff will be more productive by just hoping they’ll work harder in the whirlwind. Even if you dedicate five or 10 minutes at the beginning of every shift to getting the team together or having a one-on-one with an individual, that five-minute conversation can be incredibly powerful.”
The Building Resilience to Thrive program is offered in three rounds: from Nov. 3 to Dec. 8, Jan. 12 to Feb. 16, and Feb. 24 to March 31. Registration is $35 for chamber members and $70 for non-members. Learn more and register at bcchamber.org/events/building-resilience-to-thr...