A Moment On Physical Distancing

Last week (or the week before, it's getting quite hard to tell) I heard this wonderful phrase for the first time: "Physical Distancing".

Physical Distancing vs Social Distancing

Now, the exact meaning of this maps to the current understanding of "Social Distancing", whereby people, as societies and workplaces must have minimum distances between them at all times, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

However, it's a mindset shift.

All that we're actually asking people to do, when we say "stay 2 metres apart" is to physically distance themselves from one another. Even under the strict "stay at home" orders at the start of the lockdown (and when inevitably, they return) all we're asking people to do is remain physically, geographically even, "In Real Life", apart from one another.

What we're not doing is saying to stop being social.

As a multitude of platforms have shown us, it's incredibly possible to have "as good as possible" interactions with people virtually. No, it's not quite the same. Yes, there are lags and mute buttons and fatigue and a variety of other challenges but, it's possible.

As Google Trends indicates, the interest in this term is on the rise:

Google Trends_UK_12 Months_Physical Distancing

And while it's dwarfed in popularity by the existing term, "Social Distancing", there are signs that the latter is on the wane:

Google Trends_UK_12 Months_Physical Distancing_Social Distancing

All of this is to say that for those starting to feel the pinch of a physically distanced world, a need to "socialise", to communicate...it's all possible. Stop thinking of "staying at home" as meaning to be "cut off". Fire up your favourite app and start talking.

To office or not to office?

And what about the implications of all this for the world of work?

Many discussions in recent weeks have led to the same conclusion that currently, a hybrid model is likely to be the best to see us through the next few months, perhaps years.

For example, Moment's office will remain open, for staff to use and customers to visit if they choose to do so. There will be neither a requirement nor encouragement to use the office. There will be no preference between opting to work from or visit the office or continuing to work from home and dial in to meetings. It will be entirely at the discretion of the individuals concerned.

And while this position may seem as if the business has decided to sit on the proverbial fence, it isn't. We've decided through various consultations with the entire team that this approach is the most likely to benefit each person (priority number one) and the business (secondary) in the long run.

Furthermore, we've proven that it works: in the last three months our productivity has peaked, our team has worked together like never before thanks to the variety of tools at our disposal. Time saved commuting has been used to increase discussions with existing and new clients and partners. And we've invested in our own online presence, including marketing to sectors and territories we're already strong in and expanding our reach into complementary industries and regions.

It's not going to be easy. No one has all the answers. But it's a start.

Please stay physically distanced, but stay social and stay safe.