At the pandemic’s beginning, one friend was still working in an office while nearly everyone I knew bunkered up at home. She continued her commute daily during the darkest days of COVID with a mask on and fingers crossed that she wouldn’t bring the plague to her family. When I asked her about it, she said, “Our management would never consider anything else; we all have to be in the office.”
Just over two years later, she’s setting up her home office. The company did an about-face when they realized that the growth of the staff exceeded their physical space. Now she is being sent home to work indefinitely.
Nearly every organization has a set of third-rail rules (don’t touch the train’s electric third rail, or it will zap you!) In most organizations, third-rail rules are non-negotiable policies or unspoken truths that nobody would dare to touch. But times and long-held mindsets are changing, and it is time to start a debate. Go ahead and jump onto the metaphorical third rail (the pandemic turned the electricity off). Bust those myths. Try new things. Try things again. We have more permission than ever from our board, members, sponsors, exhibitors, and staff. Happy experimenting!