Back to the New Normal (Life Post Covid-19)

I am by nature an extrovert. I know this to be true and have had it confirmed through the Myer Briggs and other personality test done through the years.  So being in lockdown for 7 weeks was “interesting” to say the least. 

So when restrictions were partially lifted in Victoria on May 13, it felt like new life had just been injected into my lungs. I feel a different person. My first instincts were to take a drive out to the countryside to explore the autumn leaves with my new-found-freedom. 

A few days on, in the den of my home office (or, to be frank, dining table turn workstation) the new reality of the working world starts to sink in.  

Here are some of my observations from this lens:

1.     Five full days in the office is a thing of the past 

They say it takes six weeks to form a new habit. We have had more than that of working from home. I foresee that most people now when given the option will spend 2-3 days in the office and the remainder from home. 

Any stigma attached to working from home is now gone. We’re set up for it and often have the solace to have a productive run during the day.  It’s here to stay. 

2.     Video calls will replace corporate travel and face-to-face meetings

I’m a believer that you will still always need face-to-face meetings – it’s the best way to build rapport and observe body language.  Technology cannot replace that. However, there is an admittance that Zoom and other video conferencing services have added a layer of efficiency through the cutting of travel time that will remain. 

The corporate travel sector will continue to be impacted for at least the next 6-9 months.  Bye-bye business class flights. 

3.     The return of permanent desk

The wave of ‘agile-working’ and ‘hot-desking’ that necessitated sharing workstations, keyboards, mouse, etc will be reversed in the interest of hygiene.  At least on some level.  Alternatively perhaps workplaces will leave a bottle of anti-bacterial spray cleaners on each employee’s desk every morning or splash out on deep-cleaning every evening.

4.     Technology for remote working continues to improve

Communication tools, online collaboration, storage on the cloud and all manner of online software will continue to develop to facilitate this.  In the medical field the rise of telehealth consultations is here to stay. Investment into the hardware to facilitate quicker internet speeds will also increase.  Let’s look for one of these companies to invest in.

5.     The handshake?

Whether the handshake will return is a good question. Books have been written about how the handshake should work – firm and solid, not the “wet-fish” on one extreme or the “bone-crusher” at the other.  For now it seems the bumping of elbows and having a laugh about it has taken over. 

If we have a vaccine this will most certainly return.  If we don’t, maybe the normality of the handshake will fade into something we used to do. 

May 2020