There is no normal to return to

Arthur Marara

What do people expect to read when they turn to a motivational/inspirational column? 

Usually, they want to be told “you can do it…”, “you are unstoppable…” Well, that is not the message, and focus. I am very unpopular in town because of blunt talks. 

I think we need to normalise them, and ensure that we help each other confront the real problems, and address them rather than skirt them around. 

I know that you can do it, and I know that if you elect, you can be unstoppable. My question and focus are; “Why are you not doing it”. 

2020 shook the faith for many people, and 2021 started on a very sad note with the numbers of people contracting and succumbing to Covid-19. 

I have lost loved ones due to the virus, and I know that you too may also have lost some to the virus. There is so much hope and anticipation that things will return to “normal”. 

I have good or bad news for you, “there is no normal to return to”. Things will never be the same. You may be in denial, but you need to face it. There is no normal, this is the new normal.

 We have to learn to live with Covid-19

This is one reality that we have to live with. We have to learn to live with Covid-19 because it is going to be around us for sometime. This is the reason why you cannot stop planning because of Covid-19. 

You cannot wait for Covid-19 to be over before you can start thinking seriously of turning around your business. Some researches are indicating that the virus may persist into 2023, so imagine if you are waiting for things to return to normal, you may not be able to make it in business to 2023. 

2021 saw the second wave, and now the third wave that has claimed thousands of lives in Zimbabwe, and millions globally. There are reports of new strains that are coming from various parts of the world, and spreading as well. 

Even some parts of the world where populations have been vaccinated, there is now talk of the “booster shots” to help contain and fortify immune systems. This is all in a bid to manage the situation, and if the truth is to be told we should learn to live with the virus. 

Aggressive education and awareness is still needed especially in superstitious workforce that believes everything that trends on social media. 

Covid-19 is alive and it’s killing people. Vaccination programmes have to be escalated whether one believes in the conspiracy theories or not. One article circulating on the internet said that CNN fired an employee who had not been vaccinated. What is it doing? It is learning to live with the virus, and managing it as well. 

Your business has to get to a point where it makes tough decisions in order for it to sail through otherwise it will be a victim of this wave. That is the only way to move forward with business. How does your business survive when the workforce is not fit? 

Do not wait for the pandemic to be over before you can start to think. You can be over before it is over. Think creatively. Think, and think fast of how you can live with Covid-19 in your business. Most, importantly, your team has to be aware of the reality that they have a role in managing the pandemic at workplace level. 

Covid-19 has changed the way of business

This is undeniable. Even the way we live has changed. You no longer visit for the sake of visiting. You no longer gather for the sake of gathering. By February 2020, I had several regional and international speaking engagements that had been scheduled for the year. 

One email after the other, I was advised that the events had either been postponed or cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. 

The reality is that though people wanted your services, they cannot afford the risk of gathering people and exposing them to the deadly virus. 

The majority of the talks that I did in 2020 were virtual. The same has extended to 2021 as well. This saved me travelling time, as I just need to move to my desk and ring light and deliver my talk which often lasts between 45 minutes to an hour. Imagine travelling eight hours for a one-hour talk. 

Board meetings have turned virtual majority of the times. Employees have been asked to work from home depending with the nature of work that they do. 

Global firm Deloitte, a 300 000+ employee company, recently announced that staff will now have the option to work from anywhere, forever.

A number of times, some businesses will be left wondering whether they really need all the real estate for business when their staff can work from home, and manage productivity remotely. 

I am an attorney by profession, and majority of my work revolves around taking instructions from clients, rendering legal advice, preparing legal opinions, pleadings, and if need be appearing in court. 

I can do three quarters of the services virtually. I can draw up papers, and sign them virtually and forward documents for filing. I can also prepare papers for clients to sign virtually. 

Once the e-filing is ready I can file them once I am done with the process. I actually struggle when I am doing a matter with a firm that is so stuck in print, why all the waste when you can just email, and arrange a conference on zoom, and settle a matter. 

The Judicial Service Commission with its partners has set up a virtual court at Rottenrow which will be operationalised soon once the rules have been put in place. 

I had the opportunity of seeing the wonderful set up earlier this year, and there are plans to expand it nationwide. 

What a win for access to justice even for people who may be far away from the Court house. Why travel from Bulawayo to attend court in Harare when you can log in, and have your matter heard virtually. 

The new High Court rules are providing for electronic service of process. This means costs in a way for legal services will have to come down, as time spent on travelling will be reduced. 

With full electronic courts, you may not need to actually visit a court house as you can file papers electronically, do your payments electronically, and appear before the court virtually.  

This is coming soon and the Law Society in an email has also advised lawyers to be ready for this.

The future is here

One mobile communications giant used this mantra some time ago when it was promoting mobile internet in particular the 3 and 4G internet. There cannot be any better truth than that. 

Covid-19 has introduced us to the future of business where everything has to be done virtually. Earlier, this year I facilitated funeral arrangements for someone very close who had succumbed to Covid-19 over the phone from removal from place of death to burial, through phone calls, and WhatsApp. 

Invoices were sent virtually, and the same applied to payments that were made remotely, including choice of caskets without driving to a funeral home. 

Customers still wants convenience. They still want services and products. I still want to enjoy my pizza, or my favourite meal in the comfort of my home. 

I still want to build, but I do not want to travel to pay for the products. I want them delivered to a site without burning fuel or waiting in a queue. 

The needs of the customers do not change even in this pandemic. The question is how can we meet the needs of these customers more effectively and heighten the experience. 

Whether you are ready or not, technology is changing the way we do business. 

Most fields are already being disrupted, with many people losing their jobs in the process. Even organisation that used to enjoy competitive advantage in certain areas are waking up with no advantage. 

The leader’s role is to direct the organisation in a way that allows it to navigate and adapt, adopt and implement the necessary changes that will save and grow the business.

Do not fear change, embrace it

Perhaps this is one of things that needs to be constantly stressed to business leaders. 

Do not fear change, embrace it. 

The world we live is dynamic, and fast changing. Covid-19 tested many business models and in a short space of time some business quickly adjusted and some fell by the wayside. 

When you are a leader, bear in mind that nothing is guaranteed, the only guarantee that you have is that there is no guarantee. 

Change will happen. Change with change, change for change, change with change, and change to change. Covid-19 has forced many businesses to go digital and start selling virtually. 

Retail supermarkets that relied on walk in customers have also offered digital platforms where people can make their purchase without leaving the comfort of their homes. 

When you are in an environment that is characterised by change, you need to be willing to change. Try something different. 

Same methods give you same results. New thinking births, new possibilities. Tough times also show you what works and what does not work. 

The tragedy is when you hold on and even work hard on what does not work. Do not be afraid of change or trying something new. 

Try ideas outside of your comfort zone and look to others for advice. There is a great resistance for change in many business, especially changing what made sense to them for several years. 

People resist being changed by change. As a result, most people would rather be ruined than changed. 

It is Machiavelli who once said that, “Whoever desires constant success must constantly adjust to the changes in the environment.” 

The truth about life and business is you have to change with the change or you will die. 

My advice to you is Change to Change, Change with Change and Change for Change. When changes takes place you have to change as well. 

“One key to successful leadership is continuous personal change. Personal change is a reflection of our inner growth and empowerment.” (Robert Quinn). 

I want to close this part with a deep thought on change; “Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have — and underestimate the value of what they may have to gain by giving that up.”(James Belasco and Ralph Stayer)

Equip your employees for change 

Are your employees ready for change? Do they understand what it means to work from home? Are they really that focused? How can you help your employees to stay focused? How do you measure productivity when employees are working from home? These are some of the questions that business leaders have to confront themselves with every time in order to stay ahead in business. 

Arthur Marara is a corporate law attorney, keynote speaker, corporate and personal branding speaker commanding the stage with his delightful humor, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. He is a financial wellness expert and is passionate about addressing the issues of wellness, strategy and personal and professional development. Arthur is the author of “Toys for Adults” a thought provoking book on entrepreneurship, and “No one is Coming” a book that seeks to equip leaders to take charge. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Visit his website www.arthurmarara.com or contact him on +263772467255 for bookings.