The world BC (Before Covid-19) was all about about rituals – shaking hands with strangers, kissing cheeks with friends, hugging older relatives. Connection is an inherent part of being a human being. But now with the new rules on social distancing and the travel ban, we are stepping into uncertainty. The negative impact that this pandemic has had so far are evolving all the time. As at the July 1st 2020, we have exceeded 11.8M cases globally with global deaths reaching 544K
How the world is changing?
While some may brush this off as just a temporary blip in our history, others can remember a time flying before 9/11 and after 9/11. In the same way, there could be measures which are here to stay – wearing a mask may be enforced in certain establishments, taking temperatures using thermometers or cameras could become the norm, restricting social gatherings and limiting contact with people may be imposed as well. The reality is, we don’t know. And, unfortunately, our leaders have not done a great job in keeping us informed or telling us what to expect. Successfully dealing with a global pandemic would be difficult for anyone, but I think it is a prevalent sentiment that our leaders could have done better both in the speed of their response and in how they communicate the matter to the public. While some argue that re-opening after COVID-19 too soon could mean a spike in cases and related deaths, some are of the opinion that the economic damage could exceed the health hazard.
Every day heroes
This is a time when our leaders need to take a stand. And they’ve emerged in ordinary people everywhere. Our heroes through this pandemic have been doctors and nurses who came back into the workforce to help during the crisis, knowing full well the risks involved. Leaders have been neighbours helping out another neighbor, without being asked. Generous celebrities who donated money (and in the case of Tom Hanks even their own plasma!), resilient wives and mothers who have had to take care of their family while in quarantine. People who try to offer a glimpse of hope to those around, those are our true leaders.
The future of the business landscape
Unfortunately, some businesses will shut down or have already gone bankrupt due to the economic crisis. But the businesses who continued working discovered that employees can be just as productive if not more so, working from home.
After the end of this health crisis it’s quite possible that companies will embrace working from home as a permanent choice. This is the right choice not only for businesses but also for employee mental health and even for the environment as there is less traffic and building heating costs. High profile executives which used to fly out for client meetings now have been forced to conduct most of their meetings on Zoom and Microsoft meetings, with just the same result. The crisis has forced companies to take a step back and reconsider their usual practices.
Stay positive
Even if you don’t manage to accomplish big goals in 2020, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s important to accept that this is a traumatic time. The shift we are going through is international, which means we are living a collective experience. Now is the time to be a leader. But most importantly, now is the time to be kind. To one another and to ourselves.
