We are at the beginning of an unprecedented crisis whose duration we do not know and for which we have no idea of the extent and the exact nature of its consequences. Lockdown and widespread remote work are a reality for many of us.

This is all the more critical at a time when 120% of our energy and efforts are focused on managing the emergency related to the crisis.

The keys to overcoming this situation, even more today than yesterday, lie in our ability to focus individually and collectively on the right priorities and to adapt... In other words, on our ability to effectively manage our agenda.

Gradually get out of the emergency

The work context is characterized by a distance experienced between employees and for which the physical boundaries between home and the workplace have disappeared. Therefore, it seemed important to us to recall 3 key principles to apply:

Gradually get out of the emergency to rebalance your agenda according to the 3 cycles or horizons of decisions:

• 1st horizon the whirlwind of daily life: this is the most obvious horizon, but also the most dangerous if it consumes our entire agenda. These are the thoughts and decisions to manage the crisis (customers, human resources, cash flow, operations and logistics, suppliers).
• 2nd horizon, linked to our adaptation and the tactical management of our company: These are the reflections and decisions that allow us to prepare, to anticipate the way out of the crisis, to identify the opportunities that will allow us to bounce back. This is the time we give ourselves to establish crisis exit scenarios, that we spend to strengthen our relationships with our customers and within our teams.
• 3rd horizon, linked to our adaptation and the tactical management of our company: These are the reflections and decisions that allow us to prepare, to anticipate the way out of the crisis, to identify the opportunities that will allow us to bounce back. This is the time we give ourselves to establish crisis exit scenarios, that we spend to strengthen our relationships with our customers and within our teams.

Rebalance your agenda in 3 points

1. Define a distribution of time dedicated to the 3 decision-making horizons, starting with the time dedicated to strategic thinking, then that of tactical management and adaptation, to finally define the time dedicated to the hustle and bustle of daily life.
2. Define the time allocated by time slots.
3. Visualize this distribution by applying color codes associated with horizons, in planning and in reality!

Establishing or restoring functioning and efficiency rituals

Teleworking, distance and the crisis situation are all elements that can call into question the team's rituals. These rituals are intended to:

• To strengthen psychological safety and the feeling of belonging to a group,
• To build and maintain relationships between individuals,
• To standardify and code collective functioning.

This period forces us to ask ourselves the question of creating or developing these rituals.

• Work sequence change rituals.
• Daily rituals with the management team.
• Daily rituals with employees.
• Weekly rituals.

The 3 rules of a balanced life in a disrupted environment

The boundaries between the professional and personal environment have disappeared. It is imperative to quickly implement techniques and rituals that will allow us to maintain the best balance.

Rule 1: Respect your biorhythm and consider that of your employees when organizing the day: define the time slots for important meetings, breaks and family life at the beginning, during and at the end of the day, those dedicated to sport and/or introspection and also to time without screens

Rule 2: Be 100%: Abolish all sources of distraction.

Rule 3: Delimit space and time

In conclusion of these 3 points, we are convinced that it is necessary to remember these simple principles whose success depends mainly on the level of discipline with which we will apply them.

We are of course, as well as each of the VISCONTI Partners, at your disposal to support you on a daily basis in their implementation in your companies! Do not hesitate to contact VISCONTI Partners to obtain tailor-made support in the application of these principles.