The bees are sunbathing in our garden, the goldfish are hiding in the shade and it’s the beginning of another fabulous week of Summer.  What’s on your “to do” list for this week?  What great things have you planned for the rest of Summer?  I’ve recently completed an assignment and spent some time over the weekend working on a list of replacement activities.  Top of the list was a grocery delivery of wedding cake ingredients.  Yes, I’m delighted that this wedding is going ahead in September and I’m on point to create the cake.  Caking is not my profession as you know – it’s my hobby.  And it’s a hobby which requires precision planning and resilience, just as much as my creativity.  I’ll keep you posted on progress.  It’s going to be fun!

Second on my list was to write something that would somehow ease the burden of more changes ahead.  I’ve noticed that some members of my network are easing themselves back to their shared workspaces, while others continue to work from home or make plans for a new career.  Furloughed employment or homeworking has prompted some to review their priorities.  Working from home wasn’t created to counter the impact of a global pandemic, yet this powerful partnership has proved too much for some.  Put simply they’ve missed “learning by listening” as much as colleague interactions and conversation.  Remote working has turned into isolation for some, while it’s created a tranquil existence for others.  Thank heavens we’re all different.  What has been your experience?

Who’d have thought that on the very day that some are calling Freedom Day, the PM and the Chancellor are self-isolating?  Just 16 months ago we were encouraged to work at home, rather than travel to work.  In the intervening months we’ve heard the success stories and we’ve learned how impractical that’s been for some professions.  And we’ve shown gratitude to those frontline workers who’ve continued to brave communal working to deliver essential services.  Who’d have thought that a global pandemic would impact the history of work so significantly?

Some CEOs are now urging greater presence at work and “in person” collaborations, while others are abandoning expensive real estate for greater flexibility.  Most managers have done their best to accommodate new ways of working themselves, while encouraging their teams to work differently.  Some have been more successful than others at creating meaningful alternatives to coffee machine chats or team lunches.  It’s highly likely that some will be better at engaging their teams in a hybrid solution.  A lot has happened over the past year or so to encourage managers to be as resilient as they are caring, although I wonder just how much learning intervention has come their way?

Whatever your role in the organisational hierarchy I’m encouraging you all to remember that the world of work has changed significantly and at pace.  And it’s likely to change again before it settles, so I’m urging you not to get caught up in the crossfire.  Businesses have been forced (sometimes kicking and screaming) to work differently and this could be your big opportunity to be part of the solution.

It’s time to:

• Participate fully

• Create opportunities for yourself

• Volunteer for new projects

• Contribute your ideas willingly

• Grab what comes your way with both hands

• Share any concerns simply and without fear

• Watch out for colleagues who may not seem themselves

• Be clear on your space boundaries and respect others’ boundaries

• Try not to overthink why you’re needed back in the shared workspace

• Remember you’re only human

• Ask for help before you need it

• Enjoy the sunshine – Summer arrived a little late this year

• Get in touch if you’d like to begin the conversation … Let’s talk