In times like these, we need to communicate more: Ashish Bhasin, DAN

Ashish Bhasin, Dentsu Aegis Network, sheds light on how it's important to practice social distancing along with virtual proximity.

Yes. These are testing times and the adversities we face now seem severe and almost impenetrable. However, this is not the time to be grim. Or to slacken. We’ve got to put our head down and work – now more than ever! Adversity teaches us to decide. It teaches us to prioritize and seek solutions to problems that we could have never envisaged before. Adversity also teaches us to concentrate on achieving short-term goals, which eventually translate into the long-term vision. 

I have spent 32 years in this industry now and never ever have I been much of an advocate of work-from-home (WFH). This is, therefore, as much new to me as it is for many of us across the world. I am learning - just like the rest of us are. In fact, the one clear learning I have is that in times like these we need to communicate more. Not less. While we are practicing social distancing, we must practice virtual proximity. People are anxious at times like these and so, it is doubly important for leaders to connect more, and not less, with their teams. 

Also read: COVID-19: New content formats crop up amidst lockdown

We, at Dentsu Aegis Network, have always been proactive with our decisions. We are competently adept and agile. It's fundamental to our culture. Consequently, when the virus broke out and the news of its impact started spreading globally, we knew that we had to have a plan in place to ensure that the health of our employees is not compromised and, simultaneously, to keep our Business Continuity plan intact.  

We immediately
formed and activated a Management Incident Team which became part of our Business
Contingency Plan framework pertaining to Covid-19. It met every week and
monitored the situation right from the time the first case was announced in
India. IT and tech-support were systematically put in place to support WFH in
anticipation; travel advisories were issued and everything that could
potentially prove to be a roadblock to Business Continuity was discussed and
taken care of. 

Frankly, it has
been quite heartening to watch that in these times of social distancing, we are
better connected than ever before, albeit virtually. We are leveraging
technology to engage in face-to-face communications and getting used to video
calls in our everyday lives. For now, work continues as usual. And yes, hats
off to my hard-working team in APAC and India who keep surprising me by their
incredible commitment as top-class professionals. 

Stay Safe. Stay Connected.

Tune in for a one on one conversation with Ashish Bhasin on Social Samosa's Facebook page:

Date& Time: Monday, 3PM

Topic: The State of Indian Advertising and Marketing Industry in the current times.