{"id":2387,"date":"2020-05-30T00:36:50","date_gmt":"2020-05-30T00:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dynamicteamsolutions.org\/?p=2387"},"modified":"2020-05-30T00:36:50","modified_gmt":"2020-05-30T00:36:50","slug":"foresight-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/30\/foresight-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Foresight 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"We\u2019re not even half-way through 2020, and yet it feels like the longest year ever, and with no end in sight.\u00a0 The last few months have been hard, really hard.\u00a0 Will it ease up?\u00a0 Will my kids return to school in the fall?\u00a0 Will my clients be ready to jump back in on the projects we\u2019ve created together?\u00a0 When will anything go back to normal?\u00a0 These thoughts have been voiced in conversations I\u2019ve had with friends, family, colleagues.\u00a0 We\u2019re all focused on looking ahead.\u00a0 We\u2019re all wondering what the future holds.\u00a0 What can we expect later this year?\u00a0 Next?\u00a0 Even longer term?<\/p>\n

I started jotting down the responses I received, recognizing many had an unusual take on things.\u00a0 I agreed to share these, as a collection of ideas.\u00a0 While the expression has always been, hindsight is 2020.\u00a0 This is our collective take on what\u2019s happening now and our foresight for 2021.<\/p>\n

Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diana Darty of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), embraces the possibilities working from home has brought about.\u00a0 She noted that even for HR, paperless suddenly became possible.\u00a0 Certain functions can now be done remotely.\u00a0 The shut-down forcing everyone to be creative, and thereby finding new strategies to accommodate change.\u00a0 She sees more innovation and out of the box thinking as people become aware of their ability to create change.<\/p>\n

Sarah Prince of United Agencies and an avid member of Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA) keeps well abreast of all legal initiatives in the state of California.\u00a0 She notes that about two dozen legislative items are being evaluated regarding hourly employees.\u00a0 This, she says, has long been a restriction on employers interested in building a remote workforce.\u00a0 But times are changing and with it our laws.<\/p>\n

Our own Paulina Houldsworth has commented on the use and acceptance of telehealth as a key change that will transform our way of receiving medical care.<\/p>\n

Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Zoom has transformed our ability to \u201cmeet\u201d face to face, people have mixed emotions about how it works as a replacement for traditional meetings and conversations.<\/p>\n

Each leader I spoke with echoed that their teams are finding Zoom an essential tool for staying connected.\u00a0 Tight-knit groups are using it to maintain their rapport and the bonds they held when working side by side.\u00a0 However, at the employee level, the mood was different.\u00a0 Some individuals pointed that online meetings have become exhausting, forcing them to maintain availability that interferes with their work.\u00a0 They felt the effort to meet stealing away precious time, while not enhancing communication or decision making.\u00a0 Others shared the challenge of never getting real eye-contact, being able to have a quick side-comment, or enjoy the feeling of true connection that in-person meetings easily afford.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, there have been remarkable changes in the way technology has touched older generations. Stacie Ocampo, of Episcopal Communities and Services (ECS), which operates several long-term and assisted living environments, noted how quickly the residents of their facilities transitioned to using technology for social engagement, scheduling, and more.\u00a0 Many, who had previously only limited exposure, suddenly embraced the technology.\u00a0 Ms. Ocampo expects this change in ECS\u2019 communities to remain, helping relatives remain engaged with their loved ones.<\/p>\n

Diana Darty too noted that the need for technology has helped to bridge the age divide.\u00a0 Older employees are now embracing technology they long resisted, as younger employees are showing patience and helping their colleagues get up to speed.<\/p>\n

Social and Health<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sharon Spira-Cushnir of Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles, sees social distancing lasting long term, impacting their congregation as it will other religious groups.\u00a0 She believes we will see a rise in mergers and acquisitions, as some cannot survive the sudden downturn this has created.\u00a0 But she believes we\u2019ll see a positive change in the way businesses and companies manage the health of their workforce.\u00a0 Sharon imagines businesses will maintain the currently strict rules of sending home a sick worker and having them remain out until fully well.\u00a0 Remote work options will certainly help with that.<\/p>\n

Our current lifestyle changes were a point of focus for Dr. Leslie Kasanoff, a health and wellness expert.\u00a0 While it may remain important to sanitize our groceries, wash our hands for 20 seconds, and wear a mask, Dr. Kasanoff voiced concern if the paranoia continues long term.\u00a0 She emphasized that \u201cour immune system learns by doing\u201d.\u00a0 Over sterilization of everything, she stresses, will lead to more illness as our immune system is not challenged and will therefore weaken.<\/p>\n

Personal Impacts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sue Ben David, of Lewitt Hackman, imagines that we will see the impact personally, not from a change in our current behaviors, but from the deeper psychological impact of this situation.\u00a0 While she imagines we will return to our old habits and behaviors, Sue also expects we\u2019ll see a rise in divorce, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and feelings of loss.<\/p>\n

As many voiced, our social-distancing has impacted restaurants, small businesses, and the travel industry.\u00a0 Even if we can expect 90% of people to return to normal, that return will be slow, and may not be enough to resurrect the businesses and lifestyle we once enjoyed.\u00a0 Many will remain unemployed, and our young adults will be especially hard hit, unable to embark on the careers they are ready to begin.<\/p>\n

Barbara Doyle, of Loudoun Cabinets and Design, expects we\u2019ll see a positive change too – in our values.\u00a0 People stepping back and deciding what matters.\u00a0 Re-evaluating what they want, need, and expect of life when things return to normal.\u00a0 This was a sentiment shared by everyone.\u00a0 There is a communal hope that we\u2019ve learned to live differently.\u00a0 To enjoy more family time, eating or cooking meals together.\u00a0 To check in on distant relations with greater regularity.\u00a0 To create better balance.\u00a0 For those of us who have endured home-schooling, we recognize how valuable our teachers are, not only for our children, but for our families and our own mental health.<\/p>\n

Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some businesses have been fortunate to see growth, and the opportunity to capitalize on the challenges facing others.\u00a0 Dan Fisher of Ball Corporation notes that their company has hired over 400 new employees during the past few months and are expecting further growth, perhaps hiring as many as 1,000 workers in Colorado, Arizona, and Georgia by year\u2019s end.\u00a0 Not only is their growth enviable, but with so many out of work, Ball has had the good fortune of being able to select from the cream of the crop.\u00a0 They\u2019re giving back too, donating $5 million<\/a> to combat the impacts of COVID-19 in communities around the world.<\/p>\n

Given the number of people newly working from home, and making do with unacceptable work-spaces, I expect there are exciting opportunities in design and manufacturing.\u00a0 It seems there is a wide-open space and a growing need for transportable desk spaces.\u00a0 Perhaps ones with a sit\/stand option, self-contained power supply, and straps to keep everything in place as you move your \u201cdesk\u201d from the kitchen, to the patio, to your car.<\/p>\n

A Return to \u201cNormal\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether we return to shaking hands and hopping on planes or not, the shared vision of our situation includes a belief that we will see a permanent increase in the number of remote workers.\u00a0 I foresee that meetings will be held in-person, but day to day work, conducted remotely. That company offices will be smaller, and travel for work, minimized.\u00a0 That commercial real-estate market will get creative, and fast.\u00a0 We can expect to see a boost in shared workspaces, like WeWork, allowing people to work near their home, but a continuation of teams coming together for in-person meetings \u2013 which will be far more collaborative than in the past.\u00a0 We can expect a boost in work-life balance, and that traffic and commute times will be diminished.<\/p>\n

During the conversations I enjoyed as I put together this article, there was a consensus of hope.\u00a0 Hope that businesses will find new ways to thrive.\u00a0 That we will see a long-term change in the time we spend with our families, the value we place on our friendships, and the appreciation we have of our teachers and care givers.\u00a0 That we will come out of this crisis different, but better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re not even half-way through 2020, and yet it feels […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.dynamicteamsolutions.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}