"I'm a Hugger." What's Next?

As we look beyond the current state of our world and wait to see where our new normal emerges it makes you wonder... what will it truly look like. It's not a matter of 'If' something in your life is going to be impacted by the Covid 19 Crisis more likely 'to what extent' will these things be impacted.

This article really shows that we have been living in a groove for quite some time. The way we educate, healthcare delivery, the process a client has to go through in order to gain access to a Hearing Aid. Although products, experience and information flow have all dramatically changed, the delivery models remain stuck in an age old process... and now, whether we like it or not. The current global crisis is forcing us to change, and to be honest, I think we are going to like what comes out of this in the end.

On a more immediate and personal note, we were stuck in a culture of up close and personal with forced physical contact (the unexpected and uncomfortable embrace of a person who states "I'm a hugger" while violating your personal bubble) into an overnight departure from everything we know. The first step back was the foot tap, now we're 6 feet apart and wiping every surface with a disinfectant not even hoping to share the same air as another human being. Like the business world, our day to day interactions are in need of a serious reboot. Recently I was having a conversation with a friend currently in recovery from Covid 19, his perspective was quite humbling; after our conversation the two things that lingered in my mind were..."I'm never taking for granted the pleasure of drinking a cold glass of water again" as he was hooked up to breathing tubes and struggling to take his next breath, the next comment really made an impact on me and it's something we should all consider as we begin to sculpt our new normal... "All this from a handshake".... "I'm never shaking anyone's hand ever again"

There lies a very interesting thought... We are all familiar with the history behind a handshake and its seeming irrelevance in modern society, in the business world there is a stigma surrounding a good strong handshake vs a weaker handshake, and the perception that you're being rude if you haven't greeted someone by shaking their hand, but does any of it matter anymore in our post Covid 19 world? Will the handshake be seen as an unnecessary infection spreading gesture?

Only time will tell, and like this beautifully written article about how our economy and business interactions will be changed as 2020 unfolds, we will begin to learn our new normal, but as we learn we should remember to embrace that just because we always have, doesn't mean we always should. Its time for a change in many of the traditional things we do, from the virtual space in which we work and educate our children to the way we shop and greet our neighbours. Our worldwide neighbourhood is getting closer together as we unite amid a global pandemic, front line workers are finally starting to get the recognition they deserve and we're all realising what is truly important to us. I like anyone am eagerly waiting the passing of the Covid 19 virus and am extremely excited to see what our future looks like.

We're in for some exceptional changes, It's not 'If', but 'to what extent'. Hopefully that new normal will include ongoing respect for those people who have kept the world moving and a new form of rational behaviour that respects both our business needs and our desire to embrace a stranger because 'you're a Hugger".

Let’s move quickly to make it happen, Change is good.