Can We Ever Go Back?

Suppose you came up with a new way to run a business.  A way that reduces costs, maintains productivity and profits, while increasing staff satisfaction.  You tested this across the country, across all types of businesses and industries, for a year and a half.  With a few minor exceptions, the vast majority of businesses were able to perform at least as well as previously, in spite of major supply chain interruptions.

Just to recap, with no notice, no planning, virtually no management control, we sent most of our staff home in March 2020, and many of them are still working from home.

There are no end of stories – some humorous, most not – that leave us shaking our heads in disbelief, but this one is just incredible.  In terms of scope and scale, no business experiment has ever approached this.  In spite of all the damage Covid has done to the economy, to families, the deaths, the sickness, the masks and the politics, Covid has given us a golden opportunity.  Businesses thrived.  Worldwide.

Now suppose further that at the end of your trial, your boss reviewed the data, and said, “Bring ‘em back!”

Am I missing something here?

Yes, I know Tim Cook is worried about serendipitous meetings, and Cathy Merrill (CEO of the Washingtonian) is worried about her company’s culture (with good reason), and I know change is difficult.  I wrote a book about it. 

I know facts are not all that fashionable right now, and in spite of all the evidence, many companies have already made their decisions to return to the status quo.  But the status quo is a harsh taskmaster who demands obedience, regardless of a changing world.  Those who worship at the shrine of the status quo can frequently be seen foundering on the rocks of reality.  Et tu, Apple?

Paul Shank, PhD, MBA

Author, Can Healthcare Get Better?

 Special thanks to Paul Shank for letting us repost this week’s blog.