An action plan for companies to combat Covid-19

TO SAY that these are unprecedented and extraordinary times is an understatement. The Covid-19 pandemic has dragged individuals, corporations and governments around the world into a maelstrom of reaction. Just this week, India began a 21-day nation-wide shutdown; Malaysia extended its movement restrictions to mid-April; and here in Singapore, entertainment venues and tuition centres will be shuttered for a month.

Global disruption is the new normal as guidelines and policies evolve with the progression of the virus spread.

What do companies do now to deal with the uncertainty and keep running? The answer begins with a single, simple notion, as obvious as it is difficult: Calmness. Amid any crisis, staying calm is the first step, followed closely by its analogue: Patience. What happens after that? How best do we act to protect ourselves, prepare for the future, and perhaps even improve our positioning? Can there be a silver lining to this moment of disruption?