Work just got personal... continued......I am still at home!

With the easing of restrictions in Australia on the horizon, we all continue to adapt and settle into our new normal for the moment. Most of us have our technology working well enough now, parents have ensured their kids are set up to learn remotely if necessary and our overall routines are likely to look somewhat more regular than they did just a few weeks ago. Lots of people I’ve been speaking with have now implemented exercise and movement into their schedules as well. Most importantly, after potentially many years of resistance, the big realisation many people are now coming to is…

Most of us can work from home effectively.

 Sure, this realisation leads to other questions, the key one being: Does working from home seem like a breeze at the moment because the majority of people we are interacting with are also working remotely? Are we as productive, or more productive, working remotely? Now is also a great time to get real and honest with ourselves about what we are enjoying about this unprecedented period, and what we’re not enjoying quite as much.

 Here are some reflections from my own home office experience:

 I am really enjoying building deeper connections with key stakeholders. Daily, these people are welcoming me into their homes and lives — we are genuinely sharing more of ourselves naturally. Everyone is checking in on each other.

Full honesty: I am working longer hours (I really didn’t think this was possible) but I feel fully in control meaning it has been my own choice to do so. Needless to say the work is there.

The amount of exercise I am getting has definitely increased and I am enjoying this extra movement. I’m also spending more time with my husband during the week, which is enjoyable. The meals have been amazing, and the kitchen, which has always produced some great food seems to have more variety (my husband's domain). My lunches are gourmet and healthy! Then there is the credit card – other than food, Bunnings and a small amount of petrol and insurances…..not a lot else…..might mean a relook at spending habits!  Oh, and I have watched a whole netflix series or two! Really missing my sport on the TV though.

I have seen new levels of trust within our workplaces – which is awesome. I hope this trust continues and productivity around outcomes remains a priority and focus for all as opposed to time at the computer or desk.   

Some key learnings I am taking away: I am learning new things about the COVID-19 pandemic daily and observing how different people respond to the various moving pieces. I’m also learning a lot about the many different policies, practices and expectations of clients throughout this time. It has been fascinating to watch the world adapt and to witness people’s resilience rise to the surface. I am undertaking some of the free training courses that have been pushed out which I am also enjoying. Continuing to learn is a must! 

And I am sure many people will agree with my thoughts on this one: the rush to get here, there and everywhere has all but disappeared! Life is a lot calmer and to be honest, I haven’t really felt the need to check the clock all that often. The next meeting is just....well here!

What else is there to say? One thing I am not enjoying so much:

I really feel that all internal meetings need repurposing now. This need has probably been coming for a long time but the outbreak of a global pandemic has just further solidified this thought for me. Meetings - what is the purpose, and why am I here!

So what might the new norm look like?

This is the question most leaders are asking and considering. I suspect we will see people going back to the office shortly but in a staggered approach and some opting to work from home 1-2 days per week. I have an image of one person at a time in the elevators and many taking the stairs! Perhaps a staggered approach should remain the new norm as opposed to most people starting and finishing at around the same time each workday. This would certainly make the commute to and from work less stressful!

Realistically, I believe we’re looking at another six months or so before we are all really back in what we call normal land (if there is even such a thing). The sudden disruption to our regular way of life has hopefully given all of us the time to reflect on what is really important. Health, relationships, having a roof over our heads… everyone’s list will be unique to them.

The biggest question of all for me is this: will we put our new practices into place or will we revert back to the way we’ve always done things? I know most people I speak with are saying they would prefer to work one to two days each week from home, which I think is a great idea. I am a big believer in embracing the digital age and working in whatever way best assists you to consistently achieve.

What will you be choosing to do differently in the new norm?

Deborah Wilson is a Thought Leader and a Career Strategist. She takes a personalised approach to strategic career coaching and career transitions, mentoring and leadership development. Deborah provides expert guidance for individuals whilst supporting organisations through change and connecting people and purpose. Call Deborah on +61 403 779 746 or visit www.ontalent.com.au for more information.

NB: OnTalent is a fully digitally enabled business and we can deliver all of our services and solutions to clients, candidates and participants using remote technology.