The Pandemic is Over – Now What? Relationship Building and Communication Implications for Grant Work

The pandemic that changed the way we work. These changes have implications for grant professionals. This session explores these remote work and communication challenges for collaborative grant work.

The Covid-19 pandemic forced organizations to change the ways in which they work. While some organizations were prepared technically to offer remote work, others scrambled to create virtual arrangements to allow their employees to work remotely. Just creating the ability to work remotely was perhaps the easiest issue organizations confronted. They also needed to understand how to work remotely, create needed communication between and among staff, and remain connected in a very isolating time. For the most part, organizations succeeded. Zoom became a best friend and household word. We learned that we could get the work done. We adapted and thrived.

So what happens after the pandemic? What concerns should we have for re-engaging employees and partners? This presentation uses the concept of social capital to help inform us of the opportunities and challenges that make cooperative work possible. Some use it as synonymous with trust. Grant work relies on cooperation, making building and maintaining social capital especially important for the grant professional. We build social capital in organizations through formal and informal means. Formally, specific employee networks allow conversations. Informally, conversations around the “water cooler” allow people to connect and learn about each other. So, now what? How to we best balance the virtual world with the need to build relationships and trust?

The second theme of the program looks at how to build or rebuild relationships with stakeholders after the pandemic. These stakeholders may be funders, program staff or clients. During the pandemic, it became normal to schedule meetings with Zoom. Yet, Zoom meetings are mostly formal interactions, making them incomplete. The convenience of Zoom meetings will create a temptation to remain with them. However, they lack the informal communication

that we use to develop and deepen trust between people. How can we develop the needed social capital and when meeting virtually?

GPA’s Annual Conference attracts over 1,100 grant professionals for a three-day conference full of learning and networking opportunities. Grant professionals come together to exchange strategies, solutions, resources, and more. With three days of inspiration, education, and networking, attendees are equipped with a year’s worth of support for their daily responsibilities as grant professionals.

From early-career to advanced/master, the professional development sessions are designed to raise your skillset to the next level. The agenda and breakout sessions offer something for all areas of the grant profession. We invite you to join us in person or online this November for the highlight of the year for the grant industry.

Registration opens June 1.