The Big Shift 4x4 - Four shifts, four trends and three actions
As we drive back to where we were pre-pandemic, the signs seem to indicate that normality is here (or at least close by). However, somewhere along the route things have changed, potentially for the better.
In my interactions with people in my private and professional life as an exec coach, I’ve made some observations and noticed several trends on the journey back to ‘normal’. When I share these with clients the reaction is often recognition, relief, and the feeling that what people are going through resonates with others and is part of a wider, global phenomenon.
Life by its very definition is uncertain. We don’t know what’s round the corner. However, pre-Covid we thought we did. There was a predictability to life. For many of us it went something like this: do well at school, go to university, do well there, get a job with good prospects, buy a car, then a house, get married, climb the career ladder, buy a more expensive car and a bigger house/a house in a more affluent area, repeat, repeat again, and – if you are successful – you might repeat a few more times, then retire, enjoy the fruits of your hard work. In short, we expect the upward trajectory: our societal definition of success.
Then Covid shook all that up. We shifted gear. Four gears to be exact.
1. Awareness. Suddenly something happened that made us realise that we are not in control; that anything could happen at any moment. An unsettling realisation. But it isn’t that the world has become more unpredictable – it’s always been unpredictable – it’s just that now we are more aware that it is.
2. Intensity. Covid also magnified and intensified the trajectory we were on. It brought into more focus all the things that were there all along yet quietly ignored; particularly climate change and inequality relating to wealth, background, race and gender.
3. Interdependency. The pandemic showed us how connected we are. I heard it said that if Covid is anywhere, it will be everywhere; highlighting the interdependencies of the world we live in. Solving issues on a local or national level just doesn’t suffice anymore, we have to go global; the world has become smaller. Issues anywhere affect people everywhere.
4. Confrontation. The pandemic slowed us down, confronting many of us with the reality of our lives. Distraction became harder to access, bringing the real issues into sharp focus. For some, that resulted in an appreciation of what they have and a realisation of what they value. For others, it brought to the fore what hasn’t been and isn’t working. No surprise that divorce rates have increased across the world.
So, if those are the shifts I’ve noticed, what are the resulting trends?
1. We’re asking more questions. In this unpredictable, troubled and ever-shifting world, people are asking themselves questions. Questions that, likely, were there all along but have come closer the surface now. I’m sure a few of these will resonate with you:
Am I doing what I want to do be doing?
What’s my purpose?
What’s my unique contribution?
Why am I here?
What difference can I make?
Do I spend enough time with the people that matter to me?
Do I live a congruent life, i.e. a life aligned with what matters to me?
Am I trapped by my ‘success’?
What is my personal definition of success? Or have I just adopted society’s version?
2. We’re coming back to our values. All those questions require an awareness about one’s values. I notice that all the leaders I work with are keen to understand their values better. I offer a Vision Day that helps people to clarify their motivation, purpose, and values – it’s been particularly sought after during the pandemic.
3. We want to make an impact. I’m noticing that many of my clients have a genuine desire to make a difference; to do something that addresses the topical issues we face in the world, something they genuinely care about, working with and for people they like and respect. Many seem to be less tolerant of situations that are unsatisfactory or focus simply on earning a living rather than creating a life worth living.
4. We are all vulnerable. Human connection seems to matter more, emotions have become more important and acceptable, thus demoting the absolute value of rational thought. People feel a bit freer to express their feelings. It’s made us all more human and more open to being vulnerable.
So, where should we explore with our ‘4x4’ reflections? With the imminent return to ‘normality’, there’s a danger that we lose sight of the experiences we’ve had and the lessons we’ve learned on our Covid-19 detour, and that we simply pick up the same old route we followed pre-pandemic. That’s a valid choice. However, if some of the reflections are resonating, then you might want to ponder one or two or all three of these 4x4-driven questions and activities.
First, The Energy Question
Ask yourself, “Which activities give me energy and/or nourish me?
Notice your energy levels as you go about your day; identifying what drains you and what feeds your energy levels.
Take notes and you’ll soon discover some patterns that you can tap into to boost your energy and drive as you uncover where you want travel to next.
Second, Time to Reflect
Take time out to reflect on what you have learned during the last 18 months. Consider:
What did I do well?
What did I find difficult?
What am I surprised about?
What have I learned about myself and others?
Let your reflections inform and shape your choices along the road ahead.
Third, Trust your Instincts
Often, we know what we want or that something isn’t working. We can’t explain it rationally, but we do know. That ‘knowing’ is a sense – a feeling, a gut instinct. For many of us that kind of ‘knowing’ doesn’t count. We discount it because we can’t rationally explain it. But our feelings are our guides. A gut instinct is a real response to our inner or outer world, and it’s certainly worthy of exploration.
Learn to tune in and ‘hear’ these internal messages. Over time it will provide powerful insights and information by opening your access to the rational and the emotional – thus leading to more congruent and aligned decisions for you and your life.
These reflections on the shifts, trends and activities have all been driven by my own experience, my interactions with clients and friends and family. My hope is that reflecting on and answering these questions will lead us to more fulfilled and impactful lives.
And, if many of us embark on this journey and explore new routes, then who knows how differently we might shape our world.