Change is Hard. Period.
I received some surprising news last week.
I have always used a double space after a full stop – or period to you – when typing. However, I was told last week that this is no longer the correct format. It turns out that historically this was recognized part of the style guide. However, since we moved from typewriters to word processors (yes, it is that old!) it is no longer required.
Although I now know I’ve been living in the past I am struggling to change how I type. I’ve deleted at least 4 double spaces in the short sentences above. While my brain knows the right answer, my fingers default to double spacing.
This is a minor change for me to get my head around. I am sure with a few weeks of single-spaced typing I’ll catch up with the rest of the 20th century. It does, however, highlight something we all know – change is hard. This is particularly true when the change relates to something you do frequently, or that is based on a habit.
In the next few weeks a vast number of us are going to go through a massive change. Many will head back into a workplace for the first time in 18 months. Others will embrace formal hybrid working for the first time. How many of us will continue to “double space” for the next few weeks as our minds catch up with our new reality?
The challenges we’ll face are compounded by the disparate experiences we’ll have at the end of the pandemic. We had a shared change at the start of the pandemic. One day we went to a workplace, next day we didn’t. The initial change happened at roughly the same time, creating a broad, shared experience.
We are not there yet, but when the pandemic “ends” is a very different experience for each and every individual. Vaccination dates vary considerably, as does risk tolerance, family circumstances, geography and many other factors. This variability means that the pandemic will “end” at a different time for each individual.
When divergent, strongly held views, are combined with a population getting to grip with change it is a recipe for frayed nerves and some challenging interpersonal conflict.
So, as we move away from social distancing it is a good time to “double space” and pause before making the curt comment or short reply, and acknowledge that everyone has a lot of stuff going on. Period.
VP Marketing | Growth | Data | B2B | Strategy
3 年Oh and try this: <ctrl+H><dot><space><space><tab><dot><space><enter>
VP Marketing | Growth | Data | B2B | Strategy
3 年Very timely Adam, as we enter what we hope is the twilight of this pandemic and prepare for the new (new!) normal. When I was younger I used to laugh at old adages like 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' or 'old habits die hard' but increasingly I find: the truth hurts. The question(s) I am struggling with are: do we really want things to go back to 'normal' OR should individuals and organizations be focusing on what we've learned about work, family, health and values during this struggle and apply it in a meaningful way going forward? Can hybrid (office&WFH) work become a mainstay of modern life, holistically better for everyone? As you mention, how can leaders create workplace cultures that fairly accommodate the myriad of individual situations and challenges we all face in our daily lives? Lots to ponder. Thanks again for the post!
Senior Director, HR Business Partner at Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.
3 年For years when asked to edit other people's writing I've been removing double spaces! Get the word out! Computers are amazing! We have the technology to add appropriate spacing after terminal punctuation! ;>
Vice President, Compensation and Benefits Counsel
3 年This is one of those messages - like "presume good intent" - that you just can't hear often enough or in enough different ways. Thanks.