What the Pandemic Taught Us About Business Resilience – and Ourselves

What the Pandemic Taught Us About Business Resilience – and Ourselves

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we as a society are taking stock of the impact on businesses and their futures. Here at Juna, it’s no different. As we look across our own client base, we reflect on our valued clients and what they mean to us.

We asked our team to provide some thoughts on this, beginning with the prompt, “provide some words that describe our clients.” Some interesting findings emerged. We realized that our clients are adaptable, agile, creative and resourceful – all terms that suggest an ability to pivot (a word we have heard repeatedly in news cycles); and we also refer to them as stable, determined, positive and strong. Some of us even note how our clients have experienced growth or are growing, and how they have become more socially aware in an increasingly remote work environment.

From there, we took a deeper dive into how our clients managed their businesses and coped amid the pandemic. Just as important, though, we also turned the lens inward and reflected on ourselves, both as employees and individuals. How have we changed, adapted and grown during this time? The lessons we learned are invaluable.

Resilient Clients

For context, management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. notes six dimensions of business resilience: institutional, financial, operational, technological, organizational, and reputational. Several Juna employees note that many of our clients have shown aspects of all of these traits.

Encouraging examples abound. “One client in the biotech industry switched their business model to include Covid testing and exponentially increased their sales,” writes one Juna employee. Another says its client in the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry in energy efficiency “has shown resilience, financial strength, technological advancement and organizational growth despite the pandemic.”

Two other survey takers note how Juna has helped clients apply for Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans, the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL), and various payroll tax credits.

One respondent shares how some clients “had to make the tough decision to have a reduction in workforce.” They did it the right way, they say, “while keeping employee morale up (operational)” and “others made the decision to switch to remote or hybrid to keep employees happy (organizational).”

Another employee says one client was particularly aware of their larger impact. “One client displayed social awareness and maintained a positive reputation by supporting their small business clients by purchasing gift cards in the height of the pandemic while their businesses were closed and also made charitable contributions on behalf of their partners,” the worker writes.

Juna Gets Stronger

Just as our clients have grown more resilient, Juna has also exhibited business resilience.

One team member notes that we knew some of our clients would leave or go out of business. “Juna didn’t panic. There was a feeling of ‘we’ll take things as they come’ and find a way to work through whatever happens. As an employee, that gave me peace of mind.”

That same respondent notes Juna has continued to grow and add clients “partly because of the culture and staff,” which they say speaks to organizational and technological resilience. “We have a collaborative culture where I feel safe to talk about anything,” they add.

One of Juna’s founding partners reinforced the company’s commitment to keeping employees “no matter what happened to our clients.” This person says Juna “would have operated at a loss and partners would have given up their salaries to keep our team employed.”

Yet another respondent says “Juna had sound measures in place to keep business as usual during the height of the pandemic.”

Personal Growth

How have we grown and become more resilient as people? It’s an important question because it speaks to how we are coping in our day-to-day lives. It’s been tough, for sure, but we are finding ways to stay centered.

“I feel like most people have been coming together to work toward a similar goal and trying to help each other out,” says one employee. “Some days resilience to me meant just being out in nature and trying to take care of myself more effectively.”

Another colleague reveals they have become more resilient by finding ways to cope with setbacks both personally and professionally. “Having to balance home and work, as well as children at home attending school in a remote setting gave me the ability to better balance my home/work life and tend to the needs of both on a deeper, more personal level,” they say.

One team member gained inspiration from her insightful 11-year-old nephew, who asked her, “Wouldn’t it be a shame if you got through the pandemic and didn’t do anything to improve yourself?”  This person says that the pandemic taught her to appreciate the moment, and she used the opportunity to reconnect with high school friends she hadn’t been in touch with in 20 years. “I am much more present,” she says. “I try to do a gratitude meditation every day to get in the habit of appreciating life as it’s happening and not letting it get by me.”

Finally, one respondent admits they “seriously struggled for a period of time” juggling work, homeschooling children, and maintaining a home. But their struggle has purpose. A purpose, it turns out, to which we can all relate.

“As I’ve learned in life, whatever challenges you face now only makes you stronger in the end,” she says.

Powerful Life Lessons

Although the last two years have been challenging professionally and personally for so many, the Covid crisis has clearly taught us some valuable (and unexpected) life lessons – to be mindful of the moment, balanced in our thinking, and strategic in our approach. Together, we are excited for the future and all that we can accomplish – with, and for, our clients.