What if the new normal, is just normal-normal?

It has been a week… I’m known for saying, “it’s a week of Mondays,” but I’ve finally given up on it and acknowledge it’s been a year of Mondays.

A year ago, we were well into this pandemic. When we locked down, we embraced zoom calls and had game nights with the kids. We were supportive and geared up for the challenge. But it was about a month into it (about a year ago) when we all realized this wasn’t going away any time soon, and depending on where you live, you may still be in the thick of it. Our businesses reach beyond our national borders, and every region is still walking through this very differently.

What’s changed? In the beginning, we were in this together, but now we’re getting tired, and we’re getting scared. The economy really struggled a year ago, and we were awakened to its fragility.

I was speaking with a colleague the other day, someone I’ve known for over ten years. He was, for the first time in a long time, alone in his office. Usually, he’s balancing work with home-schooling his two children while his wife, an essential worker, is employed outside of the home. He broke down. I spent an hour, just listening, to how he’s been struggling; truthfully, it was well beyond what anyone should have to endure, during a pandemic or otherwise. I had no idea what he was going through.

It is more important than ever to be empathetic.

I’ve seen this increasingly across business. When we get scared, we focus inward and forget the power of community. I’m sensing greater competition between colleagues as everyone tries to get a bigger piece of the pie. It’s going to take every one of us to try to refocus on others.

So what can we do to remain successful?

• Try whenever possible to approach situations with forgiveness versus accusation. I’m not saying that not completing tasks is ok, but try to understand why deadlines are being missed. There is always a way to make it work; we just need to be more creative.
• Everyone is going through this differently. I have colleagues who have looser health restrictions in their area, and they’re feeling slightly less stress. Others in my peer group readily have access to vaccines, where some do not. We can’t assume that what we’re experiencing at home is the same as what others are going through.
• Teams are more important than ever. Having someone to support you when you are stressed or over-committed due to outside influences has always been the key to success. No one can do this alone, even in the old normal.
• Make sure you have someone to talk to. Often we don’t want to burden family members with our business struggles, so find someone you feel safe in confiding in and open up to each other. Equally, be as present for them as they are for you.
• Leverage the excellence of others. I love what I do, and I do it REALLY well. But I know what others do better. Although I always pass along tasks that aren’t in my wheel-house, I don’t often say thank you or show my appreciation enough (which is something I need to work on).
• From a technical perspective, don’t let your guard down. Incidences of ransomware attacks are on the rise. Cyber-criminals are taking advantage of our vulnerability. If you’re not expecting an invoice or an electronic payment, delete it and notify the sender that they may have been compromised. Update your passwords, and make them stronger. If possible, use multi-factor authentication.

Most importantly, be empathetic towards yourself. Forgive yourself for not having a clean home or not meeting the Instagram standard restaurant-quality meals others share. Forgive yourself for feeling tired and for feeling lost.

Here at PMA, we highly value the strength of our team. If you feel you need someone to lean on and just want to explore what that could look like, please reach out today. Maybe something as simple as talking it through will be what you need to feel re-energized and focused. We’re here for you.