For many, these unprecedented times caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic have elicited feelings of loneliness and isolation. These feelings have occupied not only people’s personal lives, but their professional lives as well. However, during this ongoing crisis, we need to work together, sharing ideas, solutions, and alternatives, more than ever. Read on to explore BLME’s tips and ideas for professional collaboration in the COVID-19 era.

Collaboration During a Global Pandemic

Network, Network, Network

It may seem like this is not an optimal time to expand your professional network, however the opposite is true. In these days filled with ever-changing guidelines and information overload, communicating and collaborating with others in your field is essential. Although in-person networking opportunities are on pause indefinitely, you can absolutely expand your network online. Search LinkedIn for event professionals with similar titles to yours, people in the same industry, and/or connections of connections. Be sure to send a personalized message when inviting people to connect, explaining that you are looking for new people to share ideas with during this uncertain time. There are also many Facebook groups for different professions and industries. Find either a national group for general questions and ideas, or search for a group of like-minded professionals specifically in your area to help decipher local guidelines and restrictions.

Host a Monthly Meeting

Once you’ve established your pandemic collaboration team, set up a monthly meeting designed to encourage collaboration within your industry. Through a Zoom or a conference call, invite participants to bring up topics of concern, questions, or dilemmas regarding their professional lives and have the rest of the participants weigh in with their advice, ideas, and perspectives. Maybe someone from the venue down the block figured out a way to enforce capacity restrictions or another person found an effective way to promote outdoor dining. Sharing said ideas and solutions during these meetings will get people’s wheels turning and could lead to innovation that benefits all meeting participants.

Be Generous

These crazy times can have people in self-preservation and self-defense mode, making them unwilling to share their ideas and solutions with others. However, now is not the time to be secretive when it comes to professional strategy. When you share your cutting-edge concepts with others in your field, you are helping your industry as a whole. This is because it will help other businesses in your field survive this pandemic. In this case, brainstorming with people who may at other times be considered your competitors is for the greater good of the industry. If you are generous with your idea-sharing and advice-giving, others will notice and give the same help back to you in the long-run. Remember that you are all working for one goal here, and that is to stay afloat throughout the COVID-19 era.

We’d love to hear about your experiences with professional collaboration throughout this pandemic, please share in the comments below!