I’m sure we can all agree the year 2020 was a year for the record books. Even today in July 2021 we are still in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Some say it’s fake, some say it’s over the top. While others say we just need to live with it as we do the seasonal flu. Others even go on to say that it is a mechanism of the Governments of the world. Resulting in a test so to speak, to control the world’s population and economy. Whatever you say it is, there is no denying that COVID-19 has changed all our lives in one way or another. 

This mysterious ‘force’ that has turned organisational structure upside down, has seen the decline in volunteers and contributes to a lack of motivation and spark that was so evident pre-pandemic.

I listen to a variety of podcasts, read material from organisations, business leaders and influencers from across the world. Some of the organisations I am a part of all-in-one form, or another have spoken of the COVID FUNK! This mysterious ‘force’ that has turned organisational structure upside down, has seen the decline in volunteers and contributes to a lack of motivation and spark that was so evident pre-pandemic. The Cambridge dictionary defines funk as; the state of being unhappy and without hope. While I can agree that COVID-19 has dashed hopes and has played with people’s emotions which could be seen as a funk. I also see another side to this current pandemic life we find ourselves in.

THE GAME CHANGER

COVID-19 hasn’t just interrupted; put a pause on things but has disrupted; changed the game all together. COVID-19 has accelerated what was already in play, it has caused businesses to adapt, evolve and transform as much as it has crushed and destroyed others. Pre-pandemic businesses that thought about selling online were forced to either sell online or close. Religious organisations around the world, who relied on meeting in person each week were forced to adapt, to go online, to engage their congregations in a whole new way. As lockdowns set in, the workforce was pushed to work from home, education was forced online, and we were all forced to adapt to this new changing climate. Flexible working conditions, the ability to have rosters that incorporate working from home a few days a week and in the office the rest, have become the norm.

“maybe instead of being so focussed on work that they neglected family they chose to focus on their families while being responsible in their work.”

THE OPPORTUNITY

What if the covid funk isn’t a funk (a sad hopeless life) but simply an opportunity. Perhaps the covid funk is just people re-evaluating their lives. What is important to them, how they choose to engage their workplaces and spaces. How they prioritise their lives. Maybe the things that were further down the list crept up to the top, maybe instead of being so focussed on work that they neglected family they chose to focus on their families while being responsible in their work. Perhaps it’s an opportunity for people who live complex lives to simplify. An opportunity to prioritise not necessarily more selfishly or seemingly neglectful, but just differently.

COVID-19 has caused all of us to focus on something. It affects all of us in different ways and it continues to do so. We have all re-evaluated our lives in some way or another in this pandemic life. What opportunities has COVID-19 presented to you? What has COVID-19 changed in your life? Have you seized the COVID OPPORTUNITY?