Big Grower September 2020 - 14

THINK BUSINESS
CREATING NEW HABITS in a
New Era
Are you trying to get back to normal or
are you adapting to a new normal?
BY MARK RICHARDSON
I
was speaking to a thought leader from Google
recently and she reminded me of an important
dynamic. She said it takes 66 days for someone
to form a new habit.
We have been in these extraordinary times
for most of 2020 now, so there are new habits
that many people are forming. This is an active
dynamic process not just a flip of the switch into
this new world.
This is important because it is the new habits
that will drive and support the argument of a
" new normal " (not just getting back to normal) as
the world moves forward.
So, what are some of these new habit themes
that people are adopting? Let's take a look at a
few of them.
REMOTE WORKING
I know many leaders are grappling with the
notion of team members continuing to work
remotely rather than coming back into the office.
I use the term remote rather than " at home "
because working remotely is about not being in
the workplace physically, not just being at home
with the kids. I know many business owners
don't see 100% of the productivity today with
working remotely but this concept is not new
to business and it is possible to be as or more
productive remotely.
There are a couple of key items to consider.
* It takes time. Most employees have been
working in a traditional manner for a long
time so it may take six to 12 months to really
get this remote dance down.
* Make it a conversation with your team, not a
policy from above. People are processing the
past few months differently (and continue to
do so). The more you can have dialog with
everyone about remote working versus office
the more likely you are to find a happy and
successful outcome.
EDITORIAL/DESIGN
Editorial Director Tim Hodson
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GOING VIRTUAL
People buy from people,
but this can be done virtually,
not just face to face. Many
companies are seeing clients
more open today to meet face
to face and are interpreting
willingness as a preference.
I believe it is more about
client ignorance.
It was not that long ago
consumers would go to the
mall for their Christmas gifts.
Today a lot of that shopping
is done online. Consumers
learned how and know
the benefit of the online
purchasing process but needed
to experience the same benefit in making some
of their buying decisions before it could become
a new habit.
Going virtual requires new skills and practice
to be able to feel comfortable and more effective.
While you or your team may have strong
technology acumen, going virtual is a different
sport that requires practice. As a new habit it will
save time and increase effectiveness with your
customers, your team and your personal life.
BALANCE
We have talked about work/life balance for
many years. Unfortunately, before COVID-19 this
was moving in the wrong direction. By pushing
the pause button in 2020 we have learned to get
outside more, to slow down a little, to try new
(or old) hobbies or activities. We have turned our
days upside down with work and home life and
can now see a new balance that can be healthy
and positive.
While a " typical " day will continue to evolve,
I believe it will not be the 9-to-5 day of the past.
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I think days may begin earlier or later but will
include many of the other activities that give
us balance. This will no longer be a New Year's
resolution that vaporized after two weeks. New
habits are forming, and we need to have more
empathy for how these have developed.
So, in closing, we continue to have a
tremendous amount of uncertainty; however,
what I am confident in is there will be new
habits. I would encourage you to fertilize the
good ones and take them to even a higher level.
While as horrific as the coronavirus has been,
" bumpy roads can lead to beautiful places. "
Mark Richardson is an author, speaker, columnist
and business growth strategist. He has written
several books on business management including
" How Fit Is Your Business? " and " Fit to Grow. "
His latest book is " Control Your Day Before It
Controls You: The 7 Steps to Mastering Your
Time. " All of his books are available on amazon.
com. He can be reached at mrichardson@
mgrichardson.com.
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14 SEPTEMBER 2020
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Big Grower September 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Grower September 2020