Hi Thrive community,
As we start to think about what our offices and businesses will look like once we begin the re-entry to work (our "next normal"), it's becoming clear that we won't return to business as usual, not after what we've been through and learned as a result of COVID-19. "The pandemic has made it all too clear that we cannot continue to live and work the way we have — breathlessly and always on," Arianna Huffington, Thrive's founder and CEO recently wrote. "The crisis has...underlined the urgency of building a future where our physical health and mental resilience are at the forefront." And workplaces will have to adapt quickly.
Today, I'd love to hear about the things you hope (or predict) will change about workplace culture in our next normal.
Are you hoping to return to a culture where we communicate and lead with more empathy and compassion? Where people talk more openly about stress and mental health? Where leaders have to truly prioritize employee well-being? Do you think our emphasis on work-life integration will grow? Will the shift to more remote work prompt us to redefine how we see productivity? Tell us what you hope or predict will change about culture once we return to work.
Please write back to this email with your brief responses (no attachments please!)
A few guidelines for these:
- Please include your first and last name (or initials), as well as your career field and city/state/country, like this: —Jane Smith, corporate attorney, Atlanta, GA
- Please keep responses to around 300 words. We may edit them for length or clarity if we include them in a story. (If you feel compelled to write a longer post on this topic, feel free to do so!)
- Deadline for responses: 9 AM EST on Friday, May 22nd
With all the stress, anxiety, social distancing and isolation stemming from the coronavirus, the need to connect with each other is more critical than ever. Join our dedicated Facebook group to stay connected with others and share your challenges and best tips for dealing with our new normal.
Please know that while I read each and every one of your responses and am grateful for the time you took to craft them, I won't be able to write back personally. But you can check here for the latest roundups, which feature my favorite nuggets of wisdom for each topic!
