History rarely remembers rulers who were flashes in the pan or reigned for short periods, only to be forgotten. They are seldom researched; statues were never forged of their likeness, nor were their faces carved into mountains. Just think back to grade school. How many of you chose to do a social studies report on William Henry Harrison, who was only president for 31 days, or Roman Emperor Pertinax, who ruled for only 86 days in AD 193? Or did you choose George Washington or Ceasar Agustus on whom to regale your classmates with stories of their lives? Rulers are often judged not just by their accomplishments but also by their staying power.
So, when we look back on the Pandemic, who is the undisputed heavyweight champion with the most staying power?
Looking at the top Google searches that were popular during the Pandemic, it is clear that several things gained popularity, but the clear winner of the Pandemic was Remote Work.
Sorry, Tiger King.
Image Source: 1
Another tech giant can give us insight into this topic. In their article "The Next Great Disruption is Hybrid Work- Are We Ready?"2, Microsoft explores how 2020 created lasting changes to our work and identified seven trends they believe will shape the working world. In my book, I QUIT! Winning the War for Top Talent, I explore the top results of Microsoft's study. Still, for today's purposes, we will only highlight their #1 key takeaway: Remote work is here to stay!
Remote work has been a pandemic trend that's stood the test of time. While it initially presented some challenges, it highlighted the benefits of greater flexibility and autonomy in the workplace. As we progress, remote work will likely become a significant part of our lives, leading to a more flexible and adaptable workforce. Suppose organizations are still fighting against remote work. In that case, they may be in for a long, protracted conflict with their workforce as remote work is the crowd favorite and has staying power. The leaders of those organizations may end up disappearing like Carole Baskin's ex-husband.
Resources:
1. https://read.chartr.co/
