The New Definition of Professional

As the third wave of COVID fatigue has settled over the globe and as organizations begin to invite employees back to the office, it is clear I can no longer continue thinking in terms of “when we get back to…” equaling the old work routine. We are at a new normal. Some may welcome the chance to be in an office while others might feel anxious about travel time and rebuilding a new routine. I’m somewhat in the middle, open to venturing back to the office and travelling for in person meetings, but fully embracing the work from home routine and not excited to let it go. I am also keenly aware that my job circumstances and employer allow me to make the choice that works best for me (with some parameters of course!).

Regardless of where you find yourself – it is clear the work environment will forevermore be a blend of hybrid, in-person and remote. During the thick of the pandemic, we all were on the same playing field – working from home. We adjusted quickly and learned new creative ways to collaborate and connect. As conditions evolve, with some returning, others wanting to continue to work from home, I am left with thoughts of how I continue to collaborate across the team and bring in elements of what I thought were healthy in office experiences while opting for a remote experience.

?Here are a few tidbits I’ve learned and evolved to during the last two years:

1.?????Rediscipline what it means to work from home

I’ve given myself grace to mentally get ready for work by establishing a morning routine. For me, this means – getting dressed (nothing fancy, just out of my PJs), prepping breakfast with the family and letting my twins know, “Ok, I’m going to work.” This statement on its face seems trivial, but it mentally prepares me and sets expectations that I am transitioning from “home” to “work”. Pre-Covid, when I’d work from home, I’d be more casual about how I showed up to work – there was no transition, the day just blended.

?2.?????Make a schedule that works for you

I give a lot of myself to work and after working from home for two years, I now expect equal in return. Although I try to keep a baseline schedule with defined working hours, there are times where that does not work due to other matters on the home front (e.g. doctor appointments, etc.). Today, I no longer feel guilty about requesting flexibility to accommodate personal obligations. I balance both. Rather than suddenly taking loads of time off (sick time) or leaving the office early, I adjust my schedule, so it works. ?This by no means, I don’t ever take the sick time – I just balance better depending on the circumstance and tradeoffs (e.g. starting earlier to prep or catch-up in the evening). The feeling of control over my schedule reminds me I’m allowed to be human.

?3.?????Hold smaller monthly syncs that are not topic specific

To maintain connections with the team, I keep 1:1 monthly syncs (sometimes more) which are not topic specific, so it allows for some socialization. These types of conversations would have happened over coffee or lunch dates with colleagues when we were in the office. These meetings have been an integral part in keeping connections alive, especially if we aren’t physically located in the same region (this is the case for me). Sometimes we talk about work, and sometimes we talk about family. I incorporate these meetings into my day-to-day and it makes me happy because I truly miss traveling and seeing the team in person frequently. It also allows room for us to be human and connect.

?4.?????Give yourself grace to be human and connected to the household

When I think back to pre-pandemic times, I remember if you had the opportunity to work from home, this was seen as a gift. Anytime I’d meet with someone who had this option, I could tell if our meetings were interrupted by their pets, kids, deliveries, etc.?this wash of shame as life was happening around them. I will admit, I probably did judge in that moment, because we have work to do, right? It took a long time for me to be comfortable with interruptions happening during the pandemic from home. Suddenly, the lines were blurred. I immediately felt that same shame and guilt for the background noise. This experience has completely changed my idea of what professional means – I've accepted what I can control and mentally adjusted my definition of what a professional environment looks like. Does dressing up make me more professional? Or it quiet ambient noise? These days, I’m much more understanding and flexible knowing these moments with our families on both sides of the screen are precious and are what matter most. If one of my toddlers walked into the room, and asked for a snuggle, I would stop and give them that small moment, and then carry on with business.?By changing our ideas and definitions of professionalism we can now include life little old stressors and still be ok. It has been nice to get to know my team more intimately due to our new circumstances.

I'm fortunate to have a working environment that allows for the flexibility of choice and more importantly lucky to be surrounded by a group of teammates that allow each other to be human first and know that professionalism is rooted in how you work with others (the relationships you build), not just the work you produce or how you are dressed. In fact, just yesterday – I blocked off time to take my children to the playground at midday. They were happy, and I was happy and eager to get back to work – feeling good to have spent the quality time with them while I still can.?

What does the new working normal look like for you?