5 questions about Covid-19 to André Batterman, CEO Batterman Consulting

André Batterman gives an assessment of the current Covid-19 situation. Read what economic impact our CEO observes, what opportunities he sees and what insights he has gained in the last days of "social distancing".

Canceled. Postponed. On-hold. If your schedule has looked like this over the last few weeks, you're not alone. The corona virus has put the entire world in a state of emergency. In addition to social consequences, the corona pandemic is also having a strong impact on the economy. The labor market is currently coming under massive pressure, with more and more reports of short-time work and plant closures reaching us. As an entrepreneur who has been active in executive search for over 38 years, André Batterman gives his assessment of the current situation. Read about the economic impact our CEO is observing, the opportunities he sees and the insights he has gained in the last days of "social distancing".

What impact does the coronavirus have on your daily business?

"As an executive search service provider, our core business is about people. Our clients commission us to find the best specialists and executives for their companies. In order to create a clear situation and needs analysis, on-site visits are unavoidable. The personal contacts with our contacts are very important so that we can create trust and further develop relationships. Many companies have now put a stop to visitors as part of their protective measures to contain the corona virus and no longer receive external people. This presents a challenge for the entire recruitment process."

Like do you meet such challenges?

"Fortunately, thanks to our digitization efforts in recent years, we didn't have to digitize overnight. Our "remote work" infrastructure allows home office if required. There is a flat hierarchy in our dynamic team. We exchange ideas on a daily basis and work out creative solutions for our customers in order to be able to offer them added value in these extraordinary times. Of course, it is very possible for us to organize discussions and interviews between companies and candidates via video conferencing, but unfortunately there is still a very essential part missing, for example the "barn smell" for the candidates. Without that, it's difficult to decide on a potential employer."

What do you recommend to companies and applicants during the Corona crisis?

"Even though new information and instructions reach us every day, it is now a matter of waking up from the initial state of shock. In my opinion, waiting is not a strategy. In order to survive the crisis, we need competent personnel who are constantly working on solutions. Once this pandemic is over, it's a matter of building up the economy with healthy ambition, courage and step by step. Those who pause now will have a lot of catching up to do later and will miss out on the upcoming upswing. I very much welcome the fact that the federal government has taken measures to support the economy as quickly as possible. This time can be consciously seen as an opportunity for differentiation. How one communicates internally and externally now is extremely important and can become a competitive advantage.

What we are also noticing: Since the shutdown, we are receiving more and more applications. It seems that the lack of leisure activities is causing many to think about their work situation and perhaps their lives in general. Probably these are triggering courage and desire for change."

You also offer interim management. When do you recommend the use of top interim managers?

"Experienced interim managers are crisis-tested personalities. This is a crucial skill not only, but especially in the current Corona era. Whether for challenging projects, comprehensive reorganizations, unforeseen situations or to bridge bottlenecks: Interim managers are ideally equipped for this and take on various roles at short notice, thus providing rapid orientation. Through our pool of executives who bring many years of leadership and interim management experience, we can offer companies suitable resources in a timely manner."

How do you envision the working world after the Corona pandemic?

"After this pandemic, "new work" measures like home office will be more widespread and certainly enjoy better acceptance. I, too, am concerned about whether the classic office model will still have a place in the future. A meeting room for personal discussions must always be there, but otherwise many employees also have a very good infrastructure at home. After the era of "social distancing," I think people are once again much more aware and appreciative of interpersonal relationships. For myself, nothing replaces personal encounters. I hope that face-to-face meetings will be used more efficiently in the future, but that virtual ones will be retained where it makes more sense. This is not least due to the idea of sustainability."

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Batterman for his contribution to this article. This interview was conducted orally.

Editor: Neslihan Steiner

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