When This Is Over, Let's Remember To Not Sink Into Our Old Comfort Zone
[This reflection is from Esteban Perez, IT Security Manager of Academic Computing and Communications Center, Information Security and Privacy Office at University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a current participant in the MOR Leaders Program. Esteban may be reached at [email protected].]
Happy Monday everyone! It is Monday, right? I gest now, but by Wednesday the days are all a blur to me. I wonder how many people this week have already have seen me in the hoodie I'm wearing or if anyone would even notice if it's the same one... would anyone even care? Did I brush my teeth? I'm sure glad I don't have hair to comb; I really do mean that.
I think about my new norm as I stand at my kitchen counter and hack away on my laptop, my wife on a conference call at the dining room table behind me, and my 2-year-old in his teepee in the living room watching something on YouTube Kids - something that we never allowed before, but affords us the ability to focus on work (most of the time). This is temporary and we will be stronger having lived through it. Some of these lifestyle and workstyle changes, however, will have lasting impacts.
I find myself thinking about what will blossom from all of this. At home, I've enjoyed watching my son establish new bonds and stronger connections with my family through our more frequent video calls every day. At work, I've seen roaring successes from my colleagues being adaptable and resourceful. I miss celebrating those victories in person. Then I chuckle thinking back about how we never really had a [good] work from home policy and how in the past some of us have even been told that it's not possible for us to work from home; but here we are in our kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, home offices, or basements, and we're doing it! What will our work from home policy look like when we get back? Will we still even want to work from home?
COVID-19 is an external force that is altering our reality. Our leadership journey disrupted making the immediate the important, but our inertia has also changed as we lead through this new and evolving landscape. We are no longer in the rut of our everyday activities, it's time to do things differently. Are we doing things better now? What is actually important?
When this is all over and we're cleaning the dust from our desks, let's remember to not sink into our old comfort zone. Let's ask ourselves now, how are our adaptations going to influence the ways that we lead our teams and lead up to our leaders? How do we hold on to our heightened sense of empathy to springboard our relationship management? Most importantly, what changes should we lead so that we are better prepared for next time? In fact, what changes can we start putting into place now?
A reflection during this time wouldn't be complete without taking a moment to zoom out and look at the big picture. It's important that we recognize that each of us, our families, friends, and colleagues, are experiencing this differently. I am thankful that my wife and I have the luxury to work right now, and on top of that to be able to work from within the safety of our home. I am thankful to my wife for waking up early to place grocery delivery orders so that I don't have to walk around the supermarket. I am thankful for being able to spend more quality time with my son. I am thankful to be able to shelter in place and stay healthy (physically and mentally). Many that aren't afforded these luxuries, and many whose sacrifices give us our privileges. I am thankful for each and every one of the essential employees and will never stop showing my gratitude; for we can never repay these debts or forget the burdens they carried.
Esteban D. Perez