One year on

This last Monday was Robbie Burns Day and Burns Night, celebrated in Scotland and around the globe by those with Scottish heritage. January 25th also represented a milestone in that it marked the one-year anniversary of the first case of COVID-19 being reported in Canada. That occurred three days after the patient arrived in Toronto from overseas travel.

Still, the immediate impacts were negligible for many of us. At this time last year, I had just wrapped up delivering two training presentations for NBA staff and enjoyed spending more time in New York City – including dinner out with a friend and experiencing the fun of Bryant Park under chilly winter skies. In February 2020, I was the keynote speaker at a federal government event in Ontario.

It was late February and early March before what we’ve since identified as a pandemic began broadly impacting lives here in North America. Of course, readers in countries including Italy were impacted earlier and are now approaching the one-year anniversary of their lives being turned upside down.

Restrictions, restrictions

Today, Canada’s Prime Minister announced that four major airlines have agreed to suspend flights to a number of sunny destinations, from this weekend through to the end of April 2021. Canucks already in such locales will be scrambling, with the support of the same airlines, to adjust their return dates. As of next week, all international flights arriving in Canada – with the exception of cargo-only flights – will be able to land at a restricted number of airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal.

Also as of early February, people returning to Canada from beyond our borders will be required to undergo testing at the arrival airport. That’s in addition to prepaying for a quarantined stay of up to three days at a supervised hotel before heading elsewhere to complete a 14-day isolation period. It’s estimated that this step will add roughly $2,000 to an individual’s travel expenses.

I know, from regular conversations with readers, trainers and conference organisers in other countries, that others are also dealing with yet another round of lockdowns or other restrictions. Many are enduring Lockdown 4.0, while others are navigating environments with different degrees of challenge and opportunity. The outlook in some countries, notably  New Zealand, is sunnier. 

Life goes on – assistants carrying on and keeping calm; Robinhood and Reddit impacting hedge fund traders

Amid all this, life goes on. We’re celebrating the arrival of a new little one in our extended family today, and looking forward to the next addition as spring rolls around. January 2021 has brought more than a few disruptions to news cycles heavily focused on the pandemic. Who knew Robin Hood (“Robinhood”)  would feature so prominently in 2021, let alone in business news? 

People are more conscious than ever of wellbeing, and more than a few readers have been reassessing priorities. We’re continuing in our careers and, for those who find themselves unemployed or underemployed as a result of the pandemic’s impacts on organisations’ bottom lines, persevering in job searches. 

A quick yet comprehensive look at your world

This is a good time to again see how and what people are doing. Some, yet not all, the questions below will be familiar. That’s because I’m tracking and will share responses to specific questions as the pandemic’s impacts stretch on past the one-year mark. A couple of the questions reflect e-conversations with fellow trainer Nick Fewings in England, and I’m also asking those who remain employed whether the pandemic has impacted whether or not you’ll be looking forward to raises or bonuses during these times. Yet others questions reflect the focus of one of the courses I deliver by webinar – best practices associated with virtual and hybrid meetings. 

Please share broadly

Please use the sharing options you’ll see on your screen to share this Weekend Poll with colleagues, peers and others in your networks. 

Let’s start, shall we? As always, feel free to click on the “Leave a comment” option if you’d like to expand on one of your answers.

January 2021 check-in

Please take a couple of minutes to complete the poll below. As always, I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Please know that, for the last three  questions, which are open-ended, I may edit responses for inclusion in my report and/or compile responses that are similar in nature. Please also know that I may include some responses, edited or unedited, in my upcoming book, The Resilient Assistant.

Please check back here for results, and/or subscribe to this website and my e-newsletter to receive alerts on the results and other articles.