The phrase “New Normal” has been thrown around these last few weeks but it’s way too premature to say we’re there.
We continue to be in the middle of a full-blown, ambiguously evolving crisis, both slow and fast-moving. For education leaders of primary, secondary and post-secondary systems, March 2020 will be remembered as the origins of new phrases like “social distancing”, “self-quarantine” and “community spread”, and taking action, not for oneself but to ensure others are being lifted up and taken care of. Social selflessness is something many of us are learning to embrace.
I heard today of a pizza restaurant’s online ordering system (Boss Lady Pizza) beginning with the question “Would you like to buy a pizza for someone else?” This is what I’m talking about. How can we in our education roles show this kind of care for others? Small acts can shift how we see each other.
And what if moving to this new normal is a marathon and not a sprint? If that is the case, we will need to pace ourselves. Seems obvious but I’ve talked with folks who are now going from one videoconference to the next with no break. Online meetings have taken away that five-minute mental and physical window to walk across the hall or yard.
Consider these acts so we can show up more powerfully in our work:
Practice mindfulness: Now that many of us are homeschooling our children, setting up a virtual office or going from one video call to the next, find time each day to practice connecting with yourself. This could be the best time to commit to a personal practice like meditation, yoga or simple daily exercise.
Look for opportunities: Ask yourself “what can I invent to address the concerns for those around me?” Your unique skills, passion, and resolve will shape what we eventually call the new normal.
Show care and gratitude: Look for your version of the pizza restaurant story. Reach out to a colleague (faculty, administrator or front-line boots on the ground employee) and ask the simplest of all questions “how are you doing?” or “how can I help you in your situation?”
From the Mindful to the Practical
I have spoken to many leaders over these last two weeks and overwhelmingly their teams have stepped up and are working exceptionally well. This is great to hear and no surprise. When a real (versus artificial) crisis appears, people rally and put aside politics, personality and power issues to address the immediate need. Teams can learn what they’re made of through these times. As you and your teams begin to settle into a new way of working with the major decisions behind you (getting students and staff home, technology-enabled for remote learning and most importantly, staff getting paid in a timely way), this is the time to step back and looking at emerging priorities. To be clear, this is new territory for all of us including the work we do.