A little grace goes a long way: Navigating re-entry to the post-pandemic workplace
A year ago this week, my wife and I were supposed to be taking in the sights and serenity of Sedona, Arizona, and the nearby Grand Canyon. It was to be our first trip to the natural wonders of northern Arizona.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
That was all PC (pre-COVID), of course.
Instead of getting some much-needed time to relax and recharge, I — like millions of others fortunate enough not to lose our jobs — was thrust into what would become a year of Zoom meetings and remote work. Work and home life became one and the same. A day away from “the office” became rare, and there was simply no point in taking a vacation.
Still, as mass vaccinations bring the promise of an end to the pandemic that has wrought untold physical, emotional and monetary devastation, businesses and organizations are publicly itching to get “back to work” — as if we’ve all just taken a year-long sabbatical.