Worcester Business Journal

26 Worcester Business Journal | November 8, 2021 | wbjournal.com workforce will look like post-pandemic. A summer 2020 survey of close to 800 U.S. companies performed by Mercer, a workplace benefits consulting firm, found one in three companies expect to have their workforce work remotely post-pandemic. Data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from July-September 2020 found telework offered to employees increased among large establishments by 86%, while in smaller businesses it increased by 31%. Keeping ahead of the curve in a competitive marketplace means continual investments in human capital. One of the best ways a company By Michelle Drolet Michelle Drolet is CEO of Towerwall, a highly specialized cybersecurity, cloud and virtual CISO services firm based in Framingham. Reach her at michelled@ towerwall.com and 774-204-0700 10) Still a novel concept. Not all insurance firms underwrite cyber insurance. Your carrier should offer to conduct a full security assessment on your network. 9) Determine your cyber risk. Determine the nature of risks like storage of personal information, wire transfers, liabilities, cost of downtime, loss of stakeholder confidence, reputation or business, to identify the right type of insurance to buy. 8) Examine policy terms carefully. As- certain terms matching your risk tolerance. Don't skip the fine print. Understand all provisions. Definitions might differ; what constitutes a security event can vary. 7) Be certain it's right for your needs. Cyber-insurance policies are not one-size- fits-all. A policy will only serve you well if it's an appropriate fit. 6) Business interruption. Any business can benefit from BI coverage. Expect a waiting period prior to the coverage start date. Ask if the policy covers cyber attacks. 5) Contingent business interruption. This useful policy is designed to offload financial losses if a business partner is unable to transact due to a cyber incident. 4) Ensure you're crystal clear about exactly what comes with the policy. Your existing insurance may cover some cyber attacks. Access to professionals is particu- larly important for small companies lacking adequate resources. 3) Know your responsibilities. Know who to notify after a breach, what steps to fol- low, and ready an incident response plan. 2) Retroactive cyber policy: What if you discover someone has been infiltrating your system for months prior? Does the policy cover? Know to follow all policy requirements such as technical controls, ransomware protection, documented cyber programs, compliance papers, user aware- ness training, etc. Otherwise, a policy could be voided. 1) Put together a smart team. Find an able cybersecurity partner to build your program. Work with cyber-knowledgeable people when filing the application to ensure success. K N O W H O W Train your workforce for the needs of the future W e're so accustomed to a world of emails and texts, the more-finely nuanced art of building rapport with a client or colleague – networking on deeper level – can wane. Merriam-Webster defines rapport as "a friendly, harmonious relationship especially a relationship characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy." Rapport building can pay off in terms of earning clients and strengthening work relationships. Shhh … listen. It's tempting to talk about ourselves. But being a listener is more valuable, encouraging openness and honesty. "If someone excitedly shares about their recent vacation, and it's a destination you've been to countless times, resist the urge to take over the conversation with your own stories of traveling there," says Christina Hillsberg at Harvard Business Review. "If they ask if you've been there, you should tell the truth, but then diplomatically put the ball back in their court by asking them questions about what they liked best about their trip." Be aware of body language, advises MasterClass.com. Non- verbal communication is key to building rapport. Remember to make comfortable eye contact and have your facial expressions mirror theirs. "Be wary of body language that signals disinterest; looking at your phone or the clock can indicate that you have no authentic interest in the person who is speaking," the site says. It leads to other skill building. Building rapport opens the door to practice communication and social skills, marketing strategies and abilities, logic and reasoning, critical thinking and more. ink of it as a doorway to broader opportunity. "It also helps that not all of your current and future clients are the same," writes Jim Brooks at Forbes, "by spending time getting to know them, you will have time to adjust and cater to their different personalities and preferences. 1 0 T H I NG S I know about... Buying cyber insurance BY SUSAN SHALHOUB Special to the WBJ 101: B U I L D I N G R A P P O R T BY KATHLEEN MANNING Special to the WBJ T raining people for the jobs of the future has taken on a new meaning in the COVID pandemic. We have witnessed a transformation in the way employers engage with employees, the public, and in the way companies deliver goods and services. e pandemic has shined a light on the need for businesses to be adaptable and technically proficient, and has given rise to the importance of continual training. Research of more than 2,500 firms by the American Society for Training and Development discovered firms offering comprehensive training enjoyed a 24% higher profit margin. A company's most valuable asset is its employees. By investing in comprehensive continual employee and management training, companies realize improved employee performance, increased employee morale, increased productivity, increased innovation, and higher employee retention. Understanding how businesses responded during the pandemic has given a clear indication of what a post-pandemic world will look like. Companies with a trained workforce were prepared to transition to a remote work environment, continued business as usual, and remained productive. We witnessed tech giants such as Apple, Facebook, Microso, and Twitter effectively transition to remote. ey now are considering what a remote Kathleen Manning is dean of center for workforce development and continuing education at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. can train its personnel is by utilizing the workforce development offerings at local community colleges. ese resources offer an abundance of affordable professional development, career growth, and employee training options. Community colleges are already proficient in the training of technical skills and new communication tools needed in today's world. ey stay current to industry needs and recognize the training and professional development of this year may radically change in the next year. Training can be customized to each employer's needs. Instructors are oen industry-trained professionals, who understand challenges employers and employees face. Continual professional development training is a must for employees at all levels of a company. Managers must have a new set of leadership skills including not only navigating communication platforms such as Slack, Basecamp or Zoom, but know how to manage their employees in a virtual workplace. Massachusetts recognizes the value of workforce development and upskilling. e Commonwealth Corp. offers funding available to employers through the Workforce Training Fund, which provides $10 -$15 million in training grants annually. By strategically investing in employee training and reskilling workers to meet the needs of today's workplace, companies will weather the pandemic downturn better and come out stronger on the other side. W W W

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