DuartePino: Worldcom Confidence Index Points to a ‘Progressive’ Approach to Recovering From The Pandemic

From technological advances to global trends, here’s how to steadily recover from the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the world economy, industries, and life itself as we know it. Everyone has felt its constantly altering ways, whether you work in or own public or private sectors companies. In this new environment, learning new ways of preserving productivity, well-being, revenue, and operations is more crucial than ever before. 

Effectively recovering from this collective trauma involves having successful means of communication at every level. For example, the latest Worldcom Confidence Index results discovered that confidence in tech use rose 6%, and trust in becoming purpose-driven increased to 3.01%. On the other hand, hybrid and flexible working confidence declined by around 3.45%, and media confidence decreased by 2.24%. 

Leaders’ confidence has been growing exponentially in two areas: tech and employee retention. Worldcom states that: changes in confidence since November suggest that a ‘progressive’ shift may be underway. For example, trust in technology to collaborate and innovate has surged by 6% since November, and confidence in artificial intelligence (AI) has increased by 1.6% in the same period, which means that leaders are adopting technology as a business solution to meet customer expectations. 

Being purpose-driven

Since November, the sharp decline of 2.7% in employee retention suggests that leaders might see tech instead of people as the future of success. However, said leaders see being purpose-driven as another progressive reaction to a crisis. The topic has increased in confidence by 3.01% since November. The numbers suggest that leaders might focus on keeping only employees who believe in the organization’s purpose and new operating ways. 

Hybrid and flexible working plus media practices 

Hybrid and flexible remote working has been declining by 3.45% since November. The pandemic has forced many organizations to shift to a more flexible approach; however, leaders do not feel this new way of working is effective. The role and impact of media have also declined by 2.24% since November.

Global trends

Global trends differ from country to country, with noticeable variations worldwide and locally. For example, Brazil has complete trust in the power behind diversity, equity, and inclusion, and as of January, the numbers have increased by 4.04%. However, that same trust declined in Poland by 1.23% in December. In Portugal, trust in adopting a hybrid and flexible approach to working has risen by 2.16% but has decreased by 2.35% in Japan. 

According to Todor Janev, chair of  Worldcom: “The success of a ‘progressive’ approach to the recovery needs a very effective communications strategy to get buy-ins from all stakeholders. Hybrid working, and using technology to change the way people operate, are very emotive topics. Unless these are handled as part of an integrated change program, organizations risk their best intentions being misunderstood.”

Creating effective internal and external communications is an ongoing process that requires open dialogue from all parties. Successful business leaders will focus on relationships and connections based on clear communication and trust. A company’s reputation can be put at risk when these factors fail. Stakeholders also need to be able to trust companies. 

As members of the Worldcom network, we have quick and unfettered access to the resources of more than 80 global partners in 49 countries and six continents to work together in designing and implementing communications strategies for all key stakeholders. Contact us to learn more about what our comms advisors can do for your business.


This article was originally published by Worldcom. It is reprinted with permission.