I am back….. in the office!

Before the clock ticks over into another year, I know that many people choose a word to act as their theme for the year. If I was to choose a word for 2020 so far, it would be ‘intense’. And wow, the period we have experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic became daily news, has been incredibly intense.

First of all, it would be remiss of me to write about being back in the office without addressing the rapidly evolving situation in Victoria here in Australia. The state has now entered back into a six week lockdown. To all Victorians, I am thinking of you. It is a tough time right now for you and remember, all Australians have been there at some point. So please continue to do the right thing for yourselves, your family, your colleagues and communities. The sooner lockdown is underway, the sooner it will be over once again. You don’t want to catch the COVID-19 virus and I am sure you wouldn’t want to spread it. We are all in this together.

We’ve all had to grit our teeth and try to make the best of the situation. I’ve written a couple of articles (click here for my recent piece) about working from home and the long hours of Zoom calls or Skype team meetings that came with it. And as a result, the need to always be switched ON. As a leader, I have been watching and listening to others, as well as speaking with my trusted friends, clients and stakeholders. Everyone is feeling the same. Where was that OFF switch? In the longer-term, I highly doubt such a working environment is good for most people’s mental health. As humans, we need those seemingly insignificant water cooler conversations, small distractions and physical connections. Yes, I have been hugging… COVID-19 style!

Having been locked away for a few months now, being back in the office again is a relief. One of the things most of us have definitely not missed is the peak hour commute. So far though, the roads and catching the train has been easy in Brisbane. The CBD hasn’t been so busy and people have generally been friendly, respectful and in my view, just that little bit more patient!

The big question is: what happens from here? I am hearing the return to work model will be a hybrid for quite some time. Just how long that is, no one really knows. I guess until the next ‘big thing’ takes place. Some people will work in the office while others will remain at home. If you ask me, this is a great model! As leaders, we must remember to focus on outcomes, not where people are physically working from. It’s time to focus on what we want to be achieving in our roles as individuals and leaders. We need to contemplate what we want our people to be focusing on. What are the expectations? As always, it’s important to keep those lines of communication open. Finding a new rhythm will be incredibly important as life returns to being somewhat normal… regardless of whether you’ve returned to the office or are still working from home. We are all working after all.

It goes without saying that we have no idea what the future will bring. The situation in Victoria is living proof that the COVID-19 situation can change very quickly. It’s important to reassure your people that whatever lies ahead, adaptation and flexibility is key. Of course, many businesses are still managing the fall-out of the pandemic and sadly, some will not survive even though parts of Australia are opening back up again. If you find yourself out of work, be sure to look to your network for support and know you’re not alone.

When faced with great challenges, it’s important to focus on what we can control. Now is a great time to focus on your leadership — ensure you are productive in whatever role or situation you find yourself in. We need leaders who have the right mindset and are visible, agile and supportive. People who can develop, implement and adjust strategies accordingly and as things change. All communication must be clear, regular and repeated over and over again.

We may not know what the next few months will bring but one thing is for sure: We still have to go about our business.

Deborah Wilson is a Thought Leader and a Career Strategist. She takes a personalised approach to strategic career coaching and career transitions, mentoring and leadership development. Deborah provides expert guidance for individuals while supporting organisations through change and connecting people and purpose.

Call Deborah on +61 403 779 746. www.ontalent.com.au