It’s time to design our new normal.

My first day back at our office this summer was embued with the same sense of possibility I felt when I moved to New York City. After months of hardship and tragedy, this finally felt like an opportunity — The official start of our ‘new normal.’ Our ways of being are fundamentally changing, and it’s up to us to create the world we want to live in. These are the questions I’m thinking about as we return to work. 

How can we make work more fluid? 

The flexible work conversation is ongoing. Though, that’s all it's really been: A conversation. 

Work is going to be much more fluid, not solely because it has to be but because we’ve proven flexibility works. I was the last person to think working from home would be successful. I didn’t believe in it from the start. This changed my perspective. We now have an implicit trust that if you don’t need to be in the office, you are free to work where you want. 

Working from home may not be possible for everyone. I personally prefer to be in the office. The aim is that people have greater optionality to design their life in a way that is best for them.

I’m excited to finally wave goodbye to the 9 to 6 workday. The constant guilt I’ve felt my entire career that I can’t leave until 6? That’s gone now. We’ve all shown we can do this. You can leave at 4 to exercise or have dinner with your kids and still get your work done. The future of work is about integration. My youngest son, Nico, is two; One of the silver linings of this experience is seeing the evolution of his learning each day, rather than just in the hour I had after work or on the weekends. I plan to be home earlier to hear him use his new words with his siblings.

How can we be more connected?

The last four months were the hardest we’ve ever faced in business. My team didn’t just carry our company through, they were the light that kept me going. We’ve never been more aligned or worked as efficiently. When you face extinction, you work together to make things happen. 

Distance forced us to be more connected. Whereas we used to have all department meetings once a quarter, now we have a daily call with our managers and directors. We know what everyone is working on and where they need support. We were united in keeping the company alive. Now, it’s clear that connection is what truly makes us thrive. Shelter in place may have physically distanced us but it made us closer than ever. 

What is essential? 

Covid has been about survival; What do you absolutely need to do to keep your company going? 

The threat woke us up from our stupor of clocking in and out. Necessity blurs as your company grows; That all changes when you shrink overnight. We’re all awake now and doing what matters. 

We’ve followed the fashion week roadmap for years; Spending money on photoshoots or taking hundreds of photos that go unseen. When you’re forced to ask - What are the bare bones we need in order to create an email, social media ad, and Instagram post? - you become more efficient. Then, you start questioning norms. Fancy photoshoots are beautiful but do we really need them? Can we divide and conquer to create content, or do a mix of shoots? I’ve been capturing much of our content at home with my daughter as our new model. 

Now that we know what we really need, we’re approaching the time spent on nonessentials with curiosity. How can we use those hours and resources differently? What can we create that is new and innovative? 

What gives you energy? 

There are no professional titles in the Covid era. We’ve all taken on so many new roles. I’ve resumed many, from overseeing marketing and partnerships to copyrighting emails. As your company gets bigger, you lose the tactile experiences and sensation of seeing something through. It’s been exciting, fun, and stressful all the same time; Getting your hands dirty again offers a sense of daily achievement that invigorates your drive and purpose.

How can we be more inclusive? 

Diversity is our most pressing question as individuals, businesses, and society. 

It’s always been a pillar at our company and I’m most proud when I look at our team and see that everyone looks different. Every company is stronger when it’s made up of different voices, views, and values. 

We’re constantly seeking to improve and are coming together to explore questions like: What is the intersectionality of being a woman of color versus a white woman at work? How can we be allies? 

Lauren Wesley Wilson, Founder of ColorComm, shared a directive to do so. “Look around and see, where are the voices? Where are the people of color who should be included in the meetings?...How can you open the door for someone and pave the way?” 

Inclusion is only possible when we understand what our team needs. It’s essential that this is a company-wide conversation and every team member feels seen and heard. We must create spaces where each one of us feels valued, welcomed, and respected.

This spring forced a sea of change. Now, it’s time for action. This is our chance to rewrite the rules. What will we be talking about in 2021? How will we have created a new normal that is better for us and society? 

How are you designing your new normal? Let me know in the comments!