John Pierce is Head of Business Development at Cetera Financial Group, driving Cetera's financial professional recruiting strategy.
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Our country has shown its resiliency once again as we have battled the global pandemic. Although we are not ready for the same level of face-to-face interaction as before the pandemic, we are much closer to resuming some of the in-person norms that are hallmarks of professional life, such as commuting and office attendance. One familiar activity — business travel — is of particular interest to those of us in the business of networking and relationship building.
As we reflect on the recruiting process, we have been forced to completely reimagine it in light of virtual meetings, makeshift workspaces and family-related dynamics of working from home (WFH). Surprisingly, many recruiting organizations have thrived as they transitioned to new technology, new ways of delivering content and new ways of storytelling. Once insurmountable hurdles have become long-term opportunities to scale results and increase success.
As I reflect back on the last 12-month period, one unintended consequence of the pandemic that stands out is the expansion of recruits considering our firm. The limitations of travel and time away from family disappeared as virtual events allowed prospects to learn about companies without the negatives of travel. As we enter our new normal, which elements of the remote experience will be permanent and which in-person activities will we return to?
Whatever the world looks like a year from now, here are seven concepts to consider as we restart travel and face-to-face meetings.
1. Don’t stop doing what has worked at work: Spend time with your colleagues brainstorming all the positives that occurred during the pandemic, including technology upgrades or activities that helped contribute to your success. If it has worked, why stop? The days of flying 100,000 miles a year may be long gone because of our learnings over the last year. I know I personally am going to evaluate the absolute need to travel, whereas in the past I would go anywhere as requested. I now know Zoom and other technologies are efficient, weed out unnecessary travel and allow me to better qualify candidates without the immediate need for an in-person visit.
2. Don’t stop doing what has worked at home: As we reboot outside the home, retain the healthy practices that have allowed you to adapt and thrive during WFH. For me, I forced myself to do short bursts of physical activity like push-ups or sit-ups to break away from my work chair. Keep hydrated and get some sun — both keep us healthy and can improve our mood. Keep the deeper connections you have developed with family and friends that were made possible by WFH. Improve your sleep habits by turning your screens off and stop scrolling through the endless strings of chatter. Finally, find space to meditate to calm your mind and give thanks for the positives you have gained this past year.
3. Know the local health and safety policies: Don’t forget to check masking and social distancing requirements for any public transportation you’re using. In cities and office buildings, mask requirements vary by establishment. First and foremost, follow guidelines and if unclear, do what makes you and those around you feel safe. Read the room a bit here, too. If you find yourself in a meeting where masks may not be required but others in the room are masked up, it’s a nice gesture to wear yours, too. Conversely, if no one is masked but you prefer to wear one, just do it. You could also ask others to wear their masks or request the meeting be moved outside if it’s appropriate.
4. To announce or not?: Being vaccinated or not is a hot topic and uncharted territory, and you’ll want to consider whether it would give colleagues a little comfort to know if you’ve been vaccinated. This is a topic on which it’s important to read the room. Personally, I never imagined a couple of shots would provide such a sense of relief that they did, and I feel more comfortable when I know I am meeting with others who are following health and safety guidelines.
5. Dust off your clothes: Check on your dry cleaning — some road warriors always have their go-to suits pressed and packable. Well, if your clothes haven’t left the closet or garment bag in about a year, I’d recommend a try-on for fit and a fresh cleaning.
6. Assess the new norms of traffic: Even with fewer people on the roads, some streets now have more outdoor dining which may mean less parking or narrowed roads. Many school drop-off/pick-up windows are a bit lengthier nowadays. Your pre-pandemic journey path and timetables have likely changed. This also means practicing patience behind the wheel so it's best to plan for extra drive time.
7. Stay true to you: If you are uncomfortable traveling, commuting or having face-to-face meetings, don’t do it. Don’t be forced into any action that makes you uncomfortable. We have all learned to appreciate and embrace what is important to us personally and professionally over the last year. While we must maintain our activity, productivity and metrics of our individual roles, proactively work with your firm to deliver on your key metrics while maintaining a safe environment.
As we restart our new normal, don’t beat yourself up if something does not work. You will find things that work and things that don’t — and that’s perfectly OK. Keep what worked during the pandemic, supplement some of your past activities and stay focused on your key metrics and deliverables.
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