Why Normal?

It is interesting to see so many conversations about getting back to normal. Getting back to where we were. It’s human nature to want stability, consistency.  We seem to need, even crave that normal.  

But is truly normal?  Status quo? Predictability? What are we really trying to achieve?

Back in 2008-2009, the messaging was about the “New Normal.”  Life was shaken up so a “new” normal was needed.  This phrase has been popping up again lately.  Our next new normal. We crave our normal.

Building an operation that is systematic and easy to manage creates a norm.  Let’s just churn through our daily routine, our normal.  Where is the growth with this approach?  The challenge to be more, do more? Being tied to the normal limits the opportunity for the next level, the next normal.

One business owner stated that he was just going to ride this out to see how it works out.  That is definitely one approach to change.  Just wait and see.  Or another approach is how to get ahead of the wave and ride the front edge which can propel you further than imagined.

A remote workforce is part of the next normal.  It has been slowly growing for years.  The phrase “workplace flexibility” has been tied to millennials entering the workforce. Is this really about millennials or is it about the evolution of our world? Is it about being creative and creating the next definition of the work world?

Being able to work from anywhere and provide the same or even greater results is part of the evolution.  There are so many studies that show the benefits of implementing a remote workforce.  Greater productivity, higher retention and employee engagement.  These are just a few of the benefits of having a distributed workforce, a remote workforce.  There is also the cost reduction in no longer being tied to an office or a larger talent pool to find those key players for your organization.  Look at the opportunities coming from this next normal and how one can capitalize on its potential.  

As leaders, our opportunity is to embrace the change and build a new, greater path.  Turn the challenges into something positive for the future.

What we label normal will always be changing.  Embrace the change and find the opportunity instead of trying to pull it back into that old norm, that comfort zone.  We came through 2008-2009 stronger, more agile.  Looking for the potential in our current situation will make us stronger even if it may be a bit painful along the way.