Entrepreneurial Perspectives in Moments of Crisis
by Ayman El Tarabishy, Deputy Chair of Department, GW School of Business and Executive Director of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB)
Being situated critically during the wake and menace of the current pandemic, we must ask ourselves if our culture is strong enough to start and eventually exist in the digital world successfully. With COVID-19 being one of many global and local crises at the moment, everything, as we know it, is changing, especially for the small businesses amongst us. Some of us might take this in an unfavorable light or, perhaps, we can view it as an opportunity for resilience. Communities can take this moment, like one during which we can stop, reflect, and subsequently organize ourselves appropriately. What are humans, if not entrepreneurs, change-makers, and future-creators?
Describing a real fear for our established human societies, we are forced to confront the fact that nature has defeated our thoughtfully and intelligently created technological systems. Having been brought to a momentary halt, kneeling to the feat of nature, we can choose to see this as bleak and discouraging or as a challenge. Encouraged, we surrender through necessary self-adjustment. If this constructed society was destroyed by nature so simply, is that society truly something to which we wish to return?
Interconnectedly, communities work together despite drastic changes in the realms of working, learning, and resting. Our role in online learning is one that recreates a new normal or, better yet, one that imagines a training guide for future crises. Admitting the world has changed is the first step, but, next, we call upon our comrades to see this world from an entrepreneurial perspective, meaning through the eyes of opportunity. How do we innovate from this situation? An example would be by moving to digital platforms, and for those who fear their lack of expertise, remember that if we can find the positivity and spirit to make it, we will succeed. Again, looking to the examples of small businesses, we can individually and collectively overcome our lack of resources to find the strength needed to adjust and adapt in new and essential ways.
This ‘can-do attitude’ will help as we work together to make sure that everyone shares one common understanding. Diversity of lense, skill, and dialogue, conjoined with a calm, clear, and grounded communication system ensures that everyone is working off of the same script and that no one is falling behind. We must reconstruct our self-images during this time. If we are looking to lead, let us do so from behind, striving to be the catalytic force pushing everyone forward together.
When our collective moves together, think inventively and executes on our planned script, we thrive. Despite being forced into this social experience of “going digital” through online learning and teaching, we hold the tremendous opportunity to work on being more human, more complex simultaneously. As the days pass in the virtual world, some of us might end up having more social interaction with others than before the confinement began. Be it students, professors, colleagues, family, or friends, remember that our intentions matter. Engage students with a story, relate to professors through responsibility.
Almost every part of life must now be taken from a different perspective. Take advantage of this. Allow reflective thinking to help guide your understanding and originality while searching for solutions. As the world advances rapidly, take this moment to innovate in a way that creates a flourishing and collective future for all.
Reference from Dr. El Tarabishy’s session, Role of Entrepreneurship in Moments of Crisis
