At the moment, we are in the midst of the second wave of the Coronavirus. Entrepreneurs are challenged to think more creatively. They all have the same goal in mind: getting through the pandemic without major setbacks. Having a strong vision and leadership are essential in these times. We asked Gijs-Jan Deenen and Leo Keller a few questions about their experiences in 2020 so far. What have they learned, and how do they keep their employees motivated?
How was the past year for you?
Leo: It was mostly about adjusting, especially during the first lockdown. We’ve never experienced a situation like this before, so it was quite nerve-wracking not knowing what to expect. It affected our collaboration and the business aspect. How do you maintain contact with clients and ensure that everyone can continue their work effectively? This applies not only to our office employees but also to our field employees. So, we had a lot of communication with our clients and employees to discuss how we could best support them during this situation.
Now, with the second wave, we can see that we are better prepared. Not just us, but society as a whole. During the first wave, we saw some projects being put on hold, but from mid-June onwards, the demand for professionals started to rise again and reached its previous levels. It shows that everyone is better prepared. The economy is alive and needs to keep going.
Gijs-Jan: It was a completely new situation where you didn’t know what was coming your way. There were also many new regulations to navigate. So, I was busy figuring out what these regulations meant for G-Nius.
When I look at the second wave, I feel a bit trapped. You can’t do business as usual, and that’s frustrating. Your entrepreneurship, the development of activities, and your creativity are limited.
I’m impressed by how the G-Nius employees have been dealing with it. They are engaged and looking for solutions and possibilities. They want to work.
How is G-Nius doing?
Leo: G-Nius is doing well. Of course, the intervention of the Coronavirus has also had an impact on our growth, as it has for most businesses. But fortunately, we don’t have to worry. We are having a good year.
How does the current situation affect G-Nius’ way of working?
Gijs-Jan: What I find impressive, and Leo has been the initiator in this, is that we already work fully in the cloud. The advantage of this is that, without realizing it, we benefit greatly from it.
We have transitioned to more digital work, such as having meetings through Teams. However, I do miss the personal contact and quick responses. Now, you have to make a call first to share something, whereas before, you could just walk up to someone. The spontaneity and the power of working with people are somewhat diminished. It does have an impact on us because our strength lies not in being digital but in making personal connections.
Leo: When it comes to our way of working, you can see that collaboration has become more challenging. There is no longer spontaneous communication, which makes maintaining contact difficult.
Internally, we had to make some adjustments. We focused on making things more transparent. A good example of this is our use of Trello. It’s a tool that allows the team to track exactly what everyone is working on.
Does this time invite reflection on the current way of working?
Leo: I think more and more things will become automated. In our field, for example, we now do more quick introductions through video calls. It allows us to conduct initial screenings. I expect that we will rely more on these types of online sessions in the future.
How do the business managers deal with the changes brought about by this time?
And how do you keep them engaged and motivated? Gijs-Jan: I’ve noticed that after a certain period, everyone really wanted to be back at the office. You realize how pleasant it is to work there. The facilities, space, and resources are all there.
By allowing the team to work at the office one or two days a week, we keep them engaged and motivated. It’s also important to go beyond the usual team meetings and make phone calls to colleagues. Just to ask how they’re doing or if you can assist them with anything.
Leo: They are handling it well. I do notice that our business managers long for a day at the office, which is fortunately possible.
It’s challenging to keep everyone sharp. What you notice is that celebrating small successes is motivating. It’s important to celebrate those small victories. An online happy hour or pub quiz also contributes to that. Such moments bring us together again.
The Coronavirus has affected many sectors. What impact do you see in the IT sector?
Leo: As I mentioned earlier, during the first wave, many things came to a halt. Projects, especially migration projects, were put on hold. Now, we see that things continue to progress, and the demand has returned to previous levels. Companies are realizing the importance of IT.
Gijs-Jan: There has been a significant boost in the focus on infrastructure. Everything needs to be in order, which puts a heavy burden on the infrastructure. This results in an increased demand for helpdesk personnel and infrastructure employees.
When it comes to implementations and projects, they are lagging behind. The same applies to innovations within IT. However, the advantage is that the packages that have already been implemented still require maintenance, so that aspect continues.
Do you think the situation will improve next year?
Gijs-Jan: I don’t think we will be free of COVID-19 next year, but we will have to continue.
I believe that we can and should do better next year than we did this year. We need to carefully consider how we position G-Nius when the market reopens. That way, we can make positive strides in terms of growth.
Leo: I also believe that G-Nius can experience growth next year. If we work hard and do the right things, there will be an upward trend for G-Nius. Additionally, I expect us to grow faster than the IT sector as a whole.
What do you think we can learn from this time?
Leo: We see that a lot of work can be done remotely. We can carry out our work more efficiently. By utilizing video calls, we can conduct interviews quickly, which makes it easier to establish new contacts.
It’s important that we continue to communicate. But above all, we need to pay attention to our employees and our relationships. That is crucial.
Gijs-Jan: It’s good that we have remained calm, which is possible because we have been around for a while.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid that we will unlearn the habit of having personal contact with each other. Personal contact is something that sets G-Nius apart. We really need to continue doing that.
It’s a good time to give even more attention to our existing relationships. It’s important to cherish what we have.
Another positive aspect is the calls to collaborate and explore solutions and opportunities. I find motivation in those discussions, and it’s also enjoyable. It’s something we should continue beyond the pandemic.
In conclusion: Do you have any tips for other entrepreneurs?
Gijs-Jan: Take a close look at your business model and ensure that you are prepared for when the market reopens. Also, utilize the knowledge that is available to you.
Leo: Maintain communication and don’t get distracted. Stay in touch with your relationships and employees. It often comes down to the little things, such as making a quick call or sending a message. Stay sharp in your business. Also, dare to stand out from the crowd.
