Lessons From Lockdown

When Boris broke the news back in March 2020, similar to many, I didn't think for one second that lockdown would last for more than four weeks. Not that I had an inside scoop, I was just in disbelief. Call it naivety, being overly optimistic or potentially in denial. Perhaps a combination of all three. In truth, like everyone, I was very concerned about the ramifications and what this might mean personally and professionally. 

Working in the recruitment industry for the last nine years, I spent seven of those in a corporate business and believe this had wired my mind into a certain way of working.  

Structure and process had to be followed in a specific way, training and development were delivered in a board room, messaging and communication never changed, and driving behaviours into teams to improve performance were always done the same way.  

There is no doubt that this way of life had led to some great successes, but overnight the 'norm' as I knew it had completely CHANGED. 

Reflecting on the last 12 months, from a business perspective, I don't think I would change how things played out. As challenging as the last year has been, I think there have been some amazing lessons to come from working in lockdown. 

Technology Is The Future 

For years in my sector, I have heard businesses say that they are not 'setup' or have the right technology infrastructure to support working from home. Covid has accelerated this exponentially and businesses have had to modernise their approach. Technology has allowed us to communicate with friends, family, colleagues, candidates and clients through some very challenging times.  

Video calls and virtual meetings are now considered the norm with a high percentage of people more than happy to meet, interview and hire over one of the many online platforms we have now become accustomed to. In many cases, because of technology, there is a new trust in everyone to utilize technology to its fullest. With untapped talent being unearthed, skill shortages being filled and new long term relationships being formed. 

Flexibility Is Here To Stay 

I am sure in the past we have all been in the office kitchen and someone has discussed working hours, flexibility or the old guard talking about the 8am-8pms that used to occur.  

I would guess that this has happened in every office. From my conversations with candidates, clients and friends, I’m pretty confident that ‘flexible working’ will no longer be ‘sold’ as a company benefit, but in most cases will be the new normal. 

Putting Mental Health and Overall Wellbeing First 

This is something that has been well documented in the news, press and social media recently. To say that it has, will and should remain very high on the agenda for most people would be an understatement.  

It’s a topic that I haven’t discussed or personally struggled with before, but during covid, my mental health was certainly tested. One of the things that massively helped me during lockdown was staying in regular contact with friends and family. If I have had a tough day/week I would make sure to talk to my wife about it… at length.  

Regular exercise has been a mainstay throughout my life but being in a routine with training has massively helped. As well as trying to not stay glued to the news and taking the opportunity to take some time in the evening to read rather than watching another doom and gloom update from Bojo or Matt Hancock.  

Everyone will have their own habits that work for them. But as we transition to a post-lockdown world, these are things that I plan to continue implementing in my own life. 

Time Is Precious 

Lockdown has meant that life has gone from moving at a million miles an hour to a much slower pace. Working long hours, commuting to and from the office, gym sessions before work, social engagements and then having to ‘Netflix & Chill’ on a Sunday just to get mentally prepared for the week ahead could potentially be things of the past.  

People now have an opportunity to work from home, not have to commute every day, can head to the gym at lunch, take the dog for a walk during the day and have more of a balance to their working week. People have more of an opportunity to put their time into things that matter to them. Things that they truly value. 

Routine Is Key 

There is a sense of certainty you receive from following a routine. You know what to do and when to do it. Having a structure means you are more likely to be productive and make time for important tasks.  

Certainly, pre-covid we all had structure to our lives and working patterns looked somewhat similar across the globe. But when lockdown hit I knew that I had to ‘create’ a new routine to give my day structure and prevent myself from being on my laptop 15 hours a day. 

A routine that was simple enough, but effective and kept me sane. I would be up at the crack of dawn either exercising at home or out walking my dog, Jagger. Then it would be time to get stuck into the day. Depending on what I had done in the morning, exercising or walking, I would alternate at lunchtime. More often than not my wife would join me, giving us a real chance to talk about our mornings.  

Then back to it and finish up the workday. We would then always look to finish at similar times and cook a HelloFresh meal (which a lot of people I know got into at the time) and reflect on the day with each other. 

I firmly believe that creating a structure to our day massively helped us as a household. As we transition back to the ‘New Norm’ there are things I am still going to make sure I keep within my routine, as I have never felt so productive. 

Communication & Transparency 

Technology has provided a much-needed tool to stay connected with families, friends and colleagues. It has been pivotal in every business as leaders have had to consistently communicate with their teams. Without this a lack of information can create uncertainty and anxiety, leading people to feel powerless.  

Continuous communication and transparency have been paramount to keeping everyone informed of how companies have been navigating through Covid. Daily updates, weekly catch-ups, monthly all hands to update on anything and everything. 

For me, trust is the cornerstone of leadership and by increasing communication, teams feel empowered to achieve their goals.  

Regular virtual check-ins to see how everyone was/is coping in these unsettling times have been paramount to the business, as well myself on a personal level. It doesn’t take much to make people feel valued, show recognition and show that you care. 

The Need and Want For Social Interaction 

I believe that during lockdown ‘most’ people have realised the importance and value of face-to-face interaction. Humans are social by nature. I am very social by nature. I have a big desire to have that back.  

Teams/Zoom/FaceTime all have merit and have been vital for family, friends and colleagues over the covid period, but after a certain time, they have become tiring. Let’s be honest, virtual communication is tough, we try to compensate for the lack of cues, facial expressions, patchy Wi-Fi connections. I welcome, when safe to do so, being around family, running a training session in the office or just being able to grab a beer with the team after work. 

A Fresh Perspective

I am sure that I am not alone in saying that Covid has been challenging. It has devastated families, friendships, businesses and livelihoods. Covid has forced us to change our way of life, how we work, and how we interact with others.  

But I believe that the lockdown has given us a fresh perspective on what is important in our lives, our businesses and has helped us achieve a better balance between home and work. It has held up a mirror on mental health and well being and it has forced us to value one another more healthily and productively. 

As tough as it has been, there have been some incredible lessons. What have you learned?