Surface Ripples

How Can We Change (1)?

 COVID-19 has been the first truly global pandemic for 100 years.  Those who experienced the “Spanish ‘flu” of 1918 – 1920 have all passed away.  Closely related was the 2009 “Swine Flu” pandemic, but this was easier to spot as those who had it displayed symptoms immediately.  The current virus appears to spread from close physical proximity and, unlike the previous SARS virus of 2003, spreads easily, faster and those infected show no symptoms whilst at their most contagious.  

The virus is still with us and shows no signs of abating soon.  Governments have tried “lockdowns”, “circuit-breakers”, “self-isolation” and testing at all levels.  Inbound travellers from overseas are being asked to self-quarantine for up to 14 days, yet still the virus spreads.

The catchphrase is “the new normal”: we need to get used to “the new normal” whatever that means….  For me, I’ve tried to look at it as to what may need to change about the way we go about our lives.

Firstly, humans are naturally social animals.  We need the company of others (even if only in small doses).  People have already started succumbing to depression due to being isolated from loved ones and friends.  Some groups are being particularly hard-hit.

Next, a great part of our lives up to now has been (and may still need to be) spent moving around: to go to work, to go to business meetings in the office, in our country or overseas, to   deliver goods or services, to do our grocery shopping, to pick up children from school, to visit relatives.  Short of becoming hermits, there is no way we can permanently isolate ourselves from the rest of the world.  These are what I call “necessary movement”.

Third, we like our leisure – the ability to go out to dinner, to a film, a club, a party at a friend’s home or a family reunion, to go on holidays overseas, to theme parks.  

The next review will look more closely at changes that may or may not come into play to help the global economy move forward.

I’ve spent more than half my life delivering change in different world markets from the most developed to “emerging” economies. With more than 20 years in international financial services around the world running different operations and lending businesses, I started my own Consultancy to provide solutions for improving performance, productivity and risk management.  I work with individuals, small businesses, charities, quoted companies and academic institutions across the world. An international speaker, trainer, author and fund-raiser, I can be contacted by email. My website  provides a full picture of my portfolio of services.  For strategic questions that you should be asking yourself, follow me at @wkm610.

Labels: Crisis Management, Customer Care, Leadership, Social

posted by William Martin @ 13:36