2021 - A Look Forward

2020 was not the year anyone planned for; it was a year filled with absolute change as we collectively learned to navigate what seemed like obstacle after obstacle after obstacle. Although 2020 wasn’t what we all hoped it would be, it was a year filled with opportunities to learn, adapt, fail, pivot, pivot some more, and ultimately grow. As an entrepreneur, I wholly subscribe to the concept of maintaining a growth mindset and embracing change. We may never again in our lifetime, live through such a monumental year of change, like 2020. 

As we head into 2021 with the “new year, new me” mentality, let us take a moment to appreciate the endurance our society, organizations, and each other have shown. The turn of the calendar doesn’t mean we get to return to “life as normal”, in fact there is a lot of positive change we will continue to embrace at RIVA long after we’ve safely retired our masks. There is still a tough road ahead, but we have a lot to be grateful for. 

Maintaining Employee Productivity

Last March, like many businesses, we transitioned to a remote environment with initial hesitation. Would the technology hold up? Would employees remain productive? Could we maintain our social, high energy culture from a distance? The surprisingly smooth transition can be attributed to a number of factors like our COVID task force and an employee base that embraces change and agility. Almost a year later we’ve moved beyond simply working from home and adopted the broader concept of Work from Anywhere. If there is wifi, we’re there. Work from Anywhere gives employees freedom to work from whatever location makes sense for them, whether that’s their hometown, the beaches of Miami, or simply a walk around the block. Allowing this type of flexibility prioritizes wellness and mental health. Well employees are happier and more productive, which means happier, more satisfied clients–a win for everyone. 

Even from afar, we’ve maintained our social nature by adopting Zoom and Slack, as well as virtual happy hours, and weekly HQ Engage sessions where we hear from guest speakers and employees working on innovative solutions. The adoption of Slack has been one of the greatest finds of the work from home environment. Our corporate, HQ-based employees have taken to this community platform naturally. These additions to our culture have allowed us to strike a balance that promotes freedom to work when and where you want without sacrificing company growth or relationships. 

People: Our Greatest Asset 

Remaining employee centric will continue to be the cornerstone of our success in 2021 and honestly has been pivotal to our growth since inception in 2009. We take great care in selecting and on-boarding talent. Individuals who are successful at RIVA embody the qualities of our mascot, the alpaca. Alpacas are social, curious, and hardworking. A RIVA “doer” is a self starter, they have an insatiable desire to learn, and possess a ceaseless curiosity that leads to personal and professional growth. At RIVA, we encourage employees to learn cross-departmental skills which allows individuals to shift into different roles and tackle new challenges internally instead of searching for opportunities externally. Replacing employees is expensive, finding ways to improve morale and ultimately increase retention is a much more sustainable way to grow a business.  

In order to successfully inspire our employees we must continuously nurture their creativity. Our social and curious culture is a catalyst for innovation. Recently we launched a new initiative, the Innovation Solutions Center (ISC) which is the culmination of our efforts to facilitate idea sharing and communication between employees. The ISC bridges the gap between employees at HQ and those in the field. It serves as a think tank space where they can flex their creative muscles, develop prototypes, and innovate new solutions. The ISC is just kicking off but we hope the end result is more collaboration, creative new solutions, and happy employees. 

To quote, Martin Luther King, Jr., “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” That's how I’m planning on approaching this year. 2021 won’t come without its challenges, I have no idea what this year has in store, but I’m looking forward to riding the rocket ship and seeing where it lands. Have faith my friends, good things are ahead for all of us. 

What positive changes are you and your organization taking with you into 2021? Where are you investing your time this year? Drop me a note in the comments below!