What will "normal" look like?
Now that we officially have a vaccine, focus has understandably shifted to how exactly it will be distributed, and by when. We are almost certainly headed back to some version of normal by the back half of 2021.
Which begs the question: what will that new version of normal look like?
A few predictions:
Many companies, especially in tech, have already committed to indefinite remote work, but most will embrace a hybrid model that includes some in-office time. The question will be how an office becomes a strategic advantage versus an imperative; a magnet, not a mandate.
Some industries that are holding their breath for the return of foot traffic won’t come back—at least, not at the same levels. Movie theaters and the fitness industry are two that come to mind that are experiencing structural change, not cyclical.
The travel industry, however, will mostly bounce back—including business travel. Yes, we’ve realized that many things don’t require in-person meetings, but we’ve also realized that there are digital things that still can’t replace the very human effects of being in the same space as each other.
What isn’t guaranteed to stick around is the resiliency many of our organizations have shown in the face of having to adapt quickly this year. Here’s hoping that feeling of being able to do big, hard things carries over into the next normal and beyond.
Myself? I’m just looking forward to being back in a mental space that says anything is possible. The simple act of walking down the street to hang out with other people in a coffee shop because I can is going to feel radical, and will come with a pang of gratitude that I hope lingers.