A Eulogy: Farewell to my old way of working

A new world of work has arrived at warp speed. This is not a blog to debate the pros and cons of remote working vs. the office. It is a eulogy to my old ways of working. 

No, it is not because I have not been able to adapt. I have successfully placed numbers of HR professionals in new career opportunities using only Zoom. I have learnt to facilitate webinars, coach team members and even co-authored and delivered a 2-year business strategy to a virtual audience. But is this my preferred working style, No. I am someone who after ticking off 150+ days of lockdown is craving the additional stimulation, energy, and information absorbed when I did my job the old. I am not alone.

I am a fairly high rating extrovert (MBTI scale) so the busier the day, the more meetings I had, the more pumped with energy I was. I love nothing more than meeting candidates face-to-face. My interviews went for an hour as we explored their career and the future. The conversation also meandered to places beyond the polite icebreaker about traffic and weather to family, holidays, politics, leadership gurus and Financial Review tidbits. It was all this additional information that gave me the moniker of “Elephant Brain”. It is the extras that assisted me to remember so many people over the years. A colleague would ask “do you remember interviewing Joe Bloggs?” They would get not only Joe’s career history but also career highlight, partners job and AFL team they barracked for. 

A face-to-face client meeting was the best! The tram ride up Collins Street was spent preparing. Waiting in the reception area, I would survey the scene and pick up cultural indicators of the business. How did the front of house team present? Were team members relaxed and engaged, or did they scurry along with purpose avoiding eye contact at any cost? Did my host keep me waiting 5 to 10 minutes or 20 minutes plus? Did they value my time and apologise when they greeted me, or was it expected that I would just wait? These small incidental and perhaps insignificant moments all stimulated my thinking, my questioning, and my approach to the work. They helped me establish that all-important match between the HR professionals I work with and culture of an organisation.

Working in the CBD I felt part of a big community. I would notice the changing fashion in the windows and plan a shopping trip. I read new restaurant menus and taste buds tingled as I dreamed of future nights out. All the while, keeping one eye on the pavement so as not to get a heel jammed in a crack. It was a full sensory overload and it was heaven. 

I recently ticked off 150+ days working from home due to Victorian lockdown restrictions.  It was this milestone and the subsequent feeling of flatness that led me to. Why was I feeling this way should I have not mastered it all by now? I have in fact mastered the process of working remotely but I am mourning being part of something bigger, a CBD community. 

As time passes I hope it is au revior, but for now adieu.



Jo Skipper is Managing Director of The Next Step. She partners with the executive HR community to source exceptional talent across contract and permanent positions. Jo has a deep understanding of, and interest in, change management and total reward specialisations.

Author: Jo Skipper    Date published : 29/06/2021