Is it the End?
On Saturday, May 29 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be lifting all restrictions on businesses relating to capacity limits, meaning all businesses can open as if we are back to February, 2020. That seems like 20 years ago to me, not sure about you. If you want to hear/learn about changes to mask policies, sorry, please google it, I just want to talk about businesses reopening.
If you are a business owner or executive, please identify the best way to get your employees out of the house. You may need to push or nudge a little, but it’s ok. I am not talking about back to the office M-F, 9–5. I am talking about a sales meeting from 10–1 with lunch brought in, a team meeting or just general come in on Tuesday if it works. Open up your offices, optional attendance but promote some in-person connections or meetings. Start small, but business has been choppy even for the best companies. Can you get a journal entry done remote, or reconcile a cash rec from home, of course. Don’t ask employees to sit in traffic to do those. However, did you grab a lunch with co-workers and learn about their kid’s birthday or did you head to a Sox game and talk about foolishness where a laugh or a memorable night helps make your company come closer together? Did you break bread with a customer to truly hear what issues they are having and how you might be able to help?
There have been many organizations that have taken the conservative route. I am not talking about last March — May, we all did, or even this past winter when cases spiked, I agree with those conservative approaches. However, no golf outings, no outdoor business meals, no spread out in-person meetings, etc. even for vaccinated people? Maybe I got stuck in SMB land, but I am still in shock at how many people have not seen an office in 15 months. Yes, this is what some companies have continued to do, even through today. Again, I am not saying back everyday, all day.
It is their right, certainly you can see many sides to this, but we as humans, need interaction, we as business people need to conduct business, and yes at times that is best done in person. I am not sure Zoom figured out how to create culture over by the snack counter or after work at the bar top table. Have you found it easy to mentor those new hires or early career individuals who still feel hesitant approaching you on Zoom? Not many have. Maybe I am naïve or optimistic, not sure yet which one, but my opinion is the majority of people are ready to head out into some sunlight and into work once or twice a week for a few hours during those days. Many have been out to dinner with a spouse or friends, played 18 holes or watched a playoff game in the family room with friends. I know some haven’t, but I started discussing this with people a lot recently and it would seem most have come out of the make-shift home office. Especially now locally with Massachusetts having more than 50% of the population fully vaccinated and another 15% or so halfway there.
I am not trying to preach and pretend I know what is best for your company. Heck, I am not even sure I even know what is best for the one I am a CFO at. But I have been to a couple department meetings in the office, been to work full days in the office, been to networking events (Yes in person), golf, a couple sales meetings in the office, hosted vendors and customers in the office, hosted a couple training sessions over the last year and hosted some casual events for employees who were interested. We also have a couple planned for this summer. Do you?
I even started, when introduced to new connections, asking these people to get together for coffee or lunch. Certainly I have spooked some people for sure with this open invitation, but what can I say, when it comes to work-networking, I like coffee, golf and scotch and I certainly don’t like Zoom anymore. It has a place, but should not be the first choice, as it has been for 15 months. We used it to survive but now it is time to thrive with old-fashion handshakes (knuckles are acceptable as well, but just until Labor Day).
Who knows, maybe by the end of the summer, business travel will come back? What too soon?
