The year has been full of changed circumstances and Lisa Earle McLeod* says often getting back into the groove has its own challenges.
“So, how’ve you been?” You search for the words.
Between unrelenting work chaos, managing virtual school, and the constant anxiety of dealing with a pandemic, it’s hard to know how to respond to a well-intended reach-out like this.
“Uh, we’re hanging in there; crazy time right?” You awkwardly stammer back.
Whether it’s physically seeing your co-workers for the first time in a year, dialling into the family Zoom calls you’ve been ghosting lately, or striking up a chat with the other parents on the playground, most of us want these relationships back.
We miss the joy, support, and camaraderie that came from these interactions.
Yet, plugging back into social relationships that have taken a long pause can be a little awkward.
Here are four tips to help.
Acknowledge the weirdness
If you’ve been ignoring texts or bailing on virtual happy hours, it’s helpful to briefly acknowledge any weirdness.
You don’t need to go too deep, a simple: “This last year has been challenging; I apologise for the lack of communication.
Please know, I’m really happy to be back with you.”
This can address that elephant in the room, but often that weirdness is all in our own heads.
We’re the centrepiece of our own lives, and just supporting actors in other people’s lives.
It’s probably not as awkward as you think.
Have realistic expectations
It’s not going to feel like the good old days overnight.
It’s been a while and a lot has changed.
Don’t be surprised if it takes a few interactions to start finding your social sea legs again.
Give yourself (and the other people) time to work back up to the level of closeness you had before.
Start small
It’s tempting to want to jump back into life as we knew it the second we get the go-ahead.
Instead of immediately booking a girls’ trip or a whole team retreat, try shorter, more casual interactions.
This helps everyone (including you) relax and get back in the groove.
Be honest about your own change
Job loss, stress, illness, all of that makes us re-evaluate our lives.
We often come out of it with different priorities and different beliefs. Other people have changed and so have you.
If you’re finding yourself not interested in the old conversations or less aligned in terms of what’s important, that’s okay.
As we begin to (hopefully) re-emerge, open your mind to new hobbies, new friends, and new expectations.
It’s tempting to want to ‘get back to normal’. I hear you.
However, after more than a year of chaos, the truth is our relationships will not be the same as they were in March of 2020.
I don’t know a single person who has not been through immense challenge and change this year — at the very least, a recalibration on what matters.
These relationships might not be the same as they were, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be good. Better, even.
*Lisa Earle McLeod is the leadership expert best known for creating the popular business concept Noble Purpose. She is the author of Selling with Noble Purpose and Leading with Noble Purpose. She can be contacted at mcleodandmore.com.
This article first appeared at mcleodandmore.com.
