Project Management in a Post-Pandemic World

No matter what your feelings were about the SARS-COV2(COVID-19), virus pandemic, communication with project managers was affected in many ways.
Project Management Institute (PMI), for many years, has maintained that while virtual teams and video calls are efficient, physical co-located teams are the best environment for project success.
What has changed is that technology has become more immersive and engaging over time. This includes video conferencing, remote system operations, application sharing, and so on. This has allowed for a steady and steady increase in virtual teams and meetings for global project management. March 2020 saw an acceleration in virtual communication implementation within the project management industry.
Virtual business: here to stay
It is fair to say that the virtual video conferencing pandemic has “fast-forwarded” technological, interpersonal and interpersonal developments. Some projects were cancelled or delayed, but the ones that were still in progress had to adapt to the lack of physical colocation. This shift was it positive? How did project managers/program directors navigate this change?
We now know more about the virus than we did when countries and companies first responded to the pandemic. Should we slow down the process? Perhaps we should return to in-person meetings. These are all questions that a project manager must address in a modern workspace.
The first question asks whether the shift to virtual communication and meeting environments was positive or detrimental. If this had happened 10-15 years ago, I believe the results would have been adverse.
We are able to keep pace with tech advancements and provide timely information
Video conferencing was difficult to do from remote locations, such as a person’s home office, just a few years ago. Broadband was still a new concept in homes. Most people were happy with 500kps upstream and 1-2mbps download speeds. Rates needed to be higher to ensure quality audio and video over the speeds of 1-2mbps in a group conversation.
A solution that transcends continents and addresses all challenges
Video conferencing is becoming a viable option to connect remote workers, customers and employees.
It has been repeatedly noted that social distancing was possible because technology allowed project managers and teams to maintain high quality communication, performance reporting, feedback, and feedback. Companies were able to adopt work-from home policies and procedures that would have taken them years to change into otherwise.
Virtual communication will be an essential tool to facilitate remote work. It is essential to a resilient business model because companies can anticipate future needs of employees, stakeholders, and consumers.
Moving forward, practically
The modern workplace has almost universally adopted remote work and video conferencing. So how can we keep moving forward and use virtual communication tools? There are several important things to consider when creating a virtual workplace.
Flexibility and adaptability are key. The pandemic caused a lot of risk to our projects. We had to move from co-location in cubicles to remote team members. Conference organizers and project managers had to create virtual events from large in-person gatherings. Project managers can replicate what they would do if they hosted the same meeting in their office or conference room by using virtual communication tools like chats, screen and application sharing, chats, and breakout rooms.
It should be simple and easy to communicate transparently. We promote the breakdown of siloed communications in project management. It can cause people to become isolated by moving things virtually. They are sitting in their own homes, or at the kitchen table, trying to read the room on Zoom or Teams calls. Open chats are a good idea. Ask questions and get clarification. Do not assume that everyone understands the presentation based on what they are expressing on camera. Direct communication can make leaders more visible, and the project team can engage more often with digital communications.
Recognize the benefits of virtual teams for resilience. Lynn Kier, VP Corporate Communications at Diebold Nixdorf, stated in a Forbes article that savvy and strategic businesses will continue to evaluate their priorities and goals in ways that make their organizations more resilient. She said, “In just a few months, businesses around world quickly adjusted to, learned from, and accepted working in a virtual environment. All companies can use this method.