Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1248324
36 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2020 the electronics industry and makes me proud to be part of this community. As time passes and stay-at-home orders are starting to be lifted, the way we work and do business throughout the electronics industry is going to look different, and I don't think any of us really know exactly how that will play out. Will more people work from home? Are people tired of working from home and eager to get back to the office? Will pay cuts and furloughs be temporary or long-term? How will business travel be handled? When will we be able to meet face-to-face? What will trade shows and conferences look like going forward? There are so many unknowns, and I certain- ly do not have the answers or even a solid, educated guess as to how things will roll out over the next few months. But what I can do is to remind myself and encourage others to re- member two things. First, the big impact that even the little things can have, and second, when things are overwhelming or uncertain, focus on how you can make small impacts. The colleague that asks to move a confer- ence call to 6:30 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. to help re- lieve some of the stress of juggling working from home with young children and home-ed- ucation will surely appreciate the small act of kindness when that request is accommodated. On that topic, when family members acciden- tally walk into the video call, say hi and move on. Yes, that was me; I completely mortified my son by barging in on his video call with new co-workers. The manufacturer that must deliver the news that your product is being delayed is likely deal- ing with many pressures that you are not aware of. A moment of kindness, a deep breath, and a collaborative discussion on how to best solve the problem will absolutely be welcomed. Salespeople historically rely on a signifi- cant amount of face-to-face communication— whether that is on-site meetings with custom- ers, "lunch and learn" technical trainings, trade shows, or social engagements. These things have all changed as well. Take a minute to help those salespeople that support you understand the best way to communicate while we can't meet in person. Trust me; that is appreciated. Employers are working hard to set up safe- ty guidelines as manufacturing re-opens, and people start coming back to work. How can you support those efforts? Feedback and col- laboration. Many in the electronics are now offering free webinars, training sessions, consulting, vid- eos, and blogs, stepping in to help those with a little extra time gain some valuable training, as well as those who are working from home have access to technical information. The list could go on and on. All these little things, collectively, will surely have a big im- pact throughout the industry. This is just one reminder that our industry is strong and resil- ient, and when things are hard, we will contin- ue to be successful by working together. PCB007 Tara Dunn is the president of Omni PCB, a manufacturer's rep firm specializing in the PCB industry. To read past columns or contact Dunn, click here.