Prior to the outbreak, experts were well aware of how loneliness impacted the workplace. Now, as some are forced to work from home or have lost their jobs entirely, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But there is a silver lining, as Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen points out that at times of uncertainty are when the best ideas emerge.
Instead of dwelling on how the old normal will be missed, it is time to focus on the opportunities the new normal can bring about. With resources like telehealth, home delivery, and tools that make manufacturing more agile, the world feels more connected than ever.
The loss of face-to-face interaction is still a hard pill to swallow as it is human nature to crave social interaction.
Workspace research firm Reventure’s managing director, Dr. Lindsay McMillian, explains how people already felt isolated from their colleagues prior to the virus due to technology and social media creating a false sense of connection to others.
McMillian added that with coronavirus having thrusted many people into a new reality, it is important for them to “reconfigure” their everyday routine. For many people, this means ensuring that their kids are getting their homeschooling done while balancing work responsibilities.
“We need to reimagine what is important within families. Conversations like this are rare,” said McMillian. “We have now been forced to wrestle with what is important in life. We are working within a stress test context. The challenges within a family with children may create a crazy world of high demands. We need to reevaluate what is important.”
