The World Is Ready to Feel Normal Again; Here is the Path Forward

Mark Roberts November 17, 2020

As we look back at spending the last six months overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be interesting to see how we have evolved and if we ever go back to the way things were.

It seems increasingly likely we will not, and, frankly, there is no need to do so. Now that the world has a taste of what it’s like to work remotely, many see no need to return to the former approach.

Instead, a “Next Normal” will soon emerge, and it will be all about empowerment.

It will be about organizations inspiring their teams in ways they didn’t do before the outbreak. For employees, it will be about redefining the work-life balance.

The result is a stronger team that embraces new ways to work and accomplish what they need to, focusing less on building out physical spaces.

In recent years, as technology has evolved, we have moved toward a mentality of working from wherever it is most practical and productive. That mindset will only hasten as we move into 2021 and beyond.

And, it’s not just me. Others are taking notice of this change.

“I’m finding I don’t want to go back to the way we were doing it,” Liane Davey, an author, speaker and co-founder of 3COze, told me. Amid the shifting work environment, Liane is counseling organizations to develop and implement strategies to move their business forward.

“Now that we’re moving into fall, people are ready to feel normal again,” Liane told me. “People want to be productive, and they’re feeling more comfortable with the work routine. That said, remote work tends to focus on the task at hand and our myopic task focus will have a downstream effect.”

Productivity and the office are not the same

While the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to adapt rapidly, they accomplished years of change in mere months. In evolving, they learned that an office is not the key to productivity, the right team is.

The office was important when it provided something teams needed — whether it be access to secure and reliable internet or supplies. But, the office today no longer offers a technological advantage to individual team members.

A recent PwC survey found more than one-quarter of workers (28%) would go into the office to use equipment such as a printer. A similar number (22%) said they went in because they had work that was not digitized.

However, half of the respondents (50%) said the main reason they go into the office is to collaborate. Trouble collaborating is also the top reason people cite for their lack of productivity as they are sheltered in place (39%), followed by balancing home duties such as childcare (38%).

The New York Times recently reported, “the line between the weekend and weekday has blurred.” With workers quarantining and unable to do much outside their homes’ confines, many companies believe their workers are free to work no matter the time of day or night. While disappointing, it shouldn’t come as a complete shock, but it’s a trend that must not continue as we move forward.

How do we work in the future?

After the start of the pandemic, we conducted a survey that revealed people do not want to return to in-person events for at least the rest of the year. Companies have heard those concerns, and they are taking action.

The PwC survey of executives found that before COVID, 39% worked remotely at least once per week. They believe that number will increase to 55% after COVID. The same survey found 72% of workers would like to work remotely at least two days per week.

There has been a lot of discussion about companies like REI, which is doing away with their new corporate headquarters. Instead, they will allow their employees to permanently work remotely.

Steps like this will fundamentally change how workers and organizations interact. It’s not just the large companies that must rethink their office approach; smaller companies will take a similar approach.

This means people will no longer feel compelled to move to large cities to find opportunities. Concurrently, companies can change how they approach the hiring process. They can hire the best talent they can find, not the best talent in whatever town they’re looking to fill a role.

But, it requires organizations to make sure their teams have what they need to be successful.

“We need to think more about what methods fit our purpose,” Liane told me. “We have to be deliberate about the mode that works for a particular function.”

A new type of ‘office’ experience

The reality is, even if the world returns to the office, it will look different in the wake of the pandemic. Just as organizations are looking to roll out hybrid events that incorporate both in-person and virtual events, a return to the office must mix in-person and virtual elements.

No matter how it looks today, the office is not entirely dead; it will be rethought. We will need to incorporate new designs that enable a new type of work, prioritizing a mix of in-person and virtual interactions that drive collaboration and productivity.

The PwC survey found that people still want in-person engagement with their colleagues. It’s why a full half of people (50%) go into the office.

As the work experience continues to evolve, organizations must keep in mind that teams value the personal connection. We can casually connect and collaborate in the office, but it is more challenging when working from disparate locations. It is a challenge that will persist unless we intentionally make connections happen.

“It’s all about making those casual collisions that happen organically in the office, happen virtually,” Liane told me. “When we’re working remotely, we lose that valuable time of breaking bread together, so we need to be more deliberate about making it happen.”

“Technology is emerging to create a ‘virtual in-person’ experience,” Liane told me. “It’s not static, and it allows us to move from one environment to another. Technology continues to give us control of our interactions with our colleagues.”

The PwC survey unveiled another possibility: more space in offices. Three in 10 executives (30%) said they anticipate needing less office space because of remote working, but half (50%) say they may need more because of social distancing mandates or even expected growth.

Pivot based on the learnings of 2020

There are a lot of lessons organizations should take out of 2020. We will likely look back on this year and consider it to be the most pivotal in some time.

If we don’t change our course based on what we experienced during the pandemic, we will not have learned the year’s lessons.

The PwC survey revealed that workers need better equipment and more flexibility to increase their productivity. It also indicated some executives might be unwilling to establish the rules for their teams.

As the world evolves and emerges into what comes next, workers need clarity — at least as much as is possible at the moment, given the ongoing uncertainty. Organizations must clarify when workers should be present and how to engage workers who balance personal needs alongside professional ones.

Leaders can’t just accept their teams’ need to balance work and life. They must empower their teams and give them the flexibility they need. Workers will return the favor with increased efficiency.

If the world can survive everything 2020 threw at us, it seems like we can survive anything. What lessons did you take away from 2020?

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