What we learned from the crazy train that has been 2020

There’s no way around it. This year has been one for the history books. I just read my last blog post from 2019, with my predictions for 2020. It seems quaint, overly optimistic, and reminiscent of a simpler, more innocent time. I recall hearing about this new virus that was running rampant a world away and thinking that it would get under control quickly and certainly wouldn’t affect me or anyone I knew. How wrong I was. Such hubris. Here I sit, a year later, with the realization that no one’s life has been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a trying year for sure, the most difficult on record for many, if not most of us. But there have been many important lessons we have learned about managing our careers and our lives this past year. Some of the most notable include the following:

Virtual work works. For employers and industries that refused to get on board the virtual work bandwagon, 2020 left them no option. They discovered that virtual teams function almost the same as in-person ones do and are just as efficient.

Videoconferencing is the norm. Dispersed teams led to an increase in videoconferencing rather than audio-only conference calls. There’s something about seeing your team members that makes all of this seem a bit more normal. Of course, seeing yourself on camera every day has been a unique experience for many, and we’ve learned how to make ourselves look presentable and professional over video.

Loyalty means very little. Employee-employer loyalty has been on the decline for decades. COVID has accelerated this, as companies impacted by the pandemic had no choice but to furlough or lay off good employees. The lesson here is to manage your career as if you’re the CEO of it – because you are. You cannot rely on an employer to do it for you.

People really are social animals. The world’s mental health has taken a serious hit with this pandemic. We are not meant to isolate. It is stressful, maddening, and tedious. A year is a LONG time to be without regular interaction with people outside of those with whom we live.

Small businesses are the drivers of the US economy. So many small businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, leading to record high unemployment. If anyone didn’t understand the economic impact of the restaurant industry, they sure do now.

We are all vulnerable. Celebrities, scientists, and world leaders have all been afflicted by the coronavirus. Regardless of your status, level of education, or even how many precautions you take, you are still at risk every single day.

Flexibility is key. Teachers and students had to adapt to remote learning without notice, training, or preparation. Companies needed to scramble to create plans to ensure the continuity of their business despite a raging pandemic. Every sector of the economy has been impacted. And while many companies had controls in place for dealing with cyberattacks, very few had pandemic preparedness plans.

Here’s to taking the lessons of 2020 and never forgetting them. And to saying goodbye to this insane year that has put to the test everyone’s resolve. I wish you all a very uneventful and ordinary 2021.