Being Human

#Pandemic - #Job Losses - #Work from Home - #Agile - #Connectivity - #Statistics - #Skill - #Mourn - #Training - #Work-Life-Balance - #Virtual - #Remote

All of these are words that are known to many and has become part of the lingo we use more and more as of 27 March 2020.

400+ Days of Lockdown restrictions - has taken its toll on people, economies and every day To-Do's. How do we go back to normal ? What is normal ?

Work from Home

Studies and statistics have shown that we as humans have the ability to adapt to change. We might not like it, but we are in a way forced to do so. Like a ship having to steer

clear of certain hazardous coast lines or obstacles on the predefined paths, to avoid disaster. These path changes in itself have their own pitfalls and still - "Adapt or Die" is the phrase that pays.

Working from home has its advantages, but also comes with baggage and a new obstacle to overcome. The normal way - We go to work, perform our tasks, have meetings, interact and socialize with colleagues and at the end of the day go home. To many the happy place. Their sanctuary - away from the hustle and bustle. Dinner, Family-time - that R&R we need, preparing for the next day.

Now the normal is - Wake Up, walk to a make shift office in another part of your home, perform our tasks, have meetings (Virtual), interact and socialize with colleagues (Virtually) and end the "Work day" as per normal. We then proceed to do the normal home chores while taking a phone-call (Work Related). The ever "ON" world has us also typing or responding to E-mails (work related) whilst in conversations with family members and or during downtime watching a movie or series.
Is this fair to family? Is this what we changed to ? How are we to "REST" if we cannot switch off, or change lanes in regard to What is Work and What is Play ?

Pro's - Working from home:

• We save on fuel
• We drive less
• We save on Insurance, because of driving less
• No more sitting in traffic
• We save on excessive spending in the malls and restaurants

Con's - Working from home:

• I think we covered that, but I'm sure each person reading this have their own Con's that they can add.

The bottom line - In my humble option is - we adapt. We steer our ships to avoid hazards. Not All jobs can be done remotely and here is where we need to become Agile.

Agile

The Wikipedia Definition of Agile (Agility):

"Agility or nimbleness is an ability to change the body's position efficiently and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength and endurance".

The workplace definition:

Agile workplace: Designed around being flexible. The traditional office has employees assigned to permanent desks whereas - being Agile encourages the worker force to move freely around the office, making use of whichever space and relates to the objectives at hand.

Being Agile, specifically in today's changing times has its advantages in that the Adapting portion becomes 2nd nature. We change as if its normal, without even flinching or giving it another thought.

Being an Agile employee means you are (or should be) more productive, with less effort. Energy saving for humans - in a way.

Skill

We all have skills. We learn as we go along. When the environment changes, we Adapt. We are taught from a very early age to understand. We ask questions and so we expand / grow. In the new digital era the wealth of knowledge and information that is available to us is overwhelming. With only a few clicks, we understand, we order products, we book dinners. Easy Peasy...

Up-skilling ourselves and constantly evolving to become more productive without overexerting ourselves. Knowing what we can do and understanding how we can do things better, is part of having the skill.

We need to market ourselves in such a way, that we become "Needed". Let's face it, we all need that pat on the back. It Builds confidence and trust.

Show who you are, Use your knowledge for the greater good.

Connect

The Digital world has changed. Interaction with colleagues and clients has Adapted and we are able to quickly respond, process and conclude business deals. Sell Items, Service Clients and generate revenue. Interacting and communicating via various Apps and on various devices and platforms.

Connectivity to our "Home" has made it possible to do and see so much more. Smart TV's - Who knew that this is where we would be now. A far cry from the Black and White bulky boxes we got when they first were introduced.

The Internet of Things - Cloud Storage - Data - Megabytes have become Petabytes.

Using technology to our benefit and not to our detriment can be a slippery slope. We need to understand what we want, use it and then remember to "Connect" to our families. Being stuck in the "Matrix" is not good. Unplug, Unwind and Relax.

Connect with yourself as well.

Conclusion

No matter where you are on your journey in this ever-changing world, remember to always be courteous, be gentle, be human. You are in control (to a certain extent) of your own path. Yes there is divine interventions and higher powers, but ultimately you have the power to make certain decisions - with the above mentioned guidance and powers helping you.

Being positive can take you to new heights and helps you on your path to success. Use what you have, be it your family, friends, colleagues etc. to gain this positive attitude. You are not alone. No Man / Woman / Child is an Island.

This phrase means: No one is truly self-sufficient. Everyone must rely on the company and comfort of others in order to thrive. ... A quote from a sermon written by the poet John Donne.

Be Safe - Be YOU !