Email: How can we deal with the new normal at work? (Canada)
As the pandemic recedes, we’re trying to figure out what the new normal will be. As we encounter unprecedented levels of uncertainty in each aspect of our lives, we can accept that the human brain wasn’t built for this. Knowing what our brain does well & doesn’t gives us clear strategies to endure.
Even before the pandemic, our work life was undergoing rapid changes in customer experiences, employee expectations, competitive models, leadership styles. Covid-19 managed to upend the few things that felt relatively predictable, like where we spent our working hours, how we collaborated. Our brain is great at recognising patterns, turning complex sets of data into things we can do on a natural auto-pilot.
When things are chaotic, it can impact motivation, focus, co-operation, a sense of purpose & overall well-being. Here, the concept of realistic optimism is simple yet powerful. We just believe everything is going to be fine, while accepting that getting there may not be so easy. Helps stay positive in the face of obstacles with realistic expectations. These are precisely the moments we remember why we do what we do, to stay inspired. The big picture. Dealing with the unexpected means new, innovative ways of working.