I was recently interviewed for an article that asks a big question: What will business be like after this crisis? Hint: It will be different. And leaders will need to adapt.
It’s helpful to take a step back and look at our current situation as a series of phases.
PHASE 1: Crisis happens. As a result, we are subjected to sudden and drastic change. Stress and trauma occur as people fear for their health and livelihoods
PHASE 2: We start to adapt to new business routines. We begin to form new work habits. Stress and trauma continue.
PHASE 3: We are given the green light to return to our pre-crisis working conditions. Business leaders have to answer some tough questions…
Here are some questions that leaders need to consider:
- Does it make sense to bring everyone back to the office now that there is an infrastructure for remote work? Will former on-site teams become hybrid teams?
- How will people’s accumulated stress and trauma impact their return? What are the mental health implications?
- How do they bridge the gap between team members who are still cautious and team members who no longer feel a need to follow social distancing precautions?
And here’s a big one:
- Will employers re-imagine and revisit their sick day policies? In many organizations it’s still a badge of honor to come to work sick and contagious. That philosophy
maywill need readjustment in a post-pandemic workplace.
These questions won’t have easy answers. The good news? No one is in this alone. We’ll figure it out together. And I promise you that my colleagues and I will be here to help.
If you’d like to talk about strategy and best practices for your organization, please shoot me a message to set up a call.
