The pandemic did not teach me anything new, it just changed me!

A year after the first nation-wide COVID-19 lockdown in India, I found myself hoping that we could perhaps get back to our pre- new normal routine and head back into the office, sooner rather than later. Little did I know that this aspirational thought was as short-lived as a bubble! The country is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 positive cases once again, recording daily increase in numbers higher than any day since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Looking back, 2020 was a tumultuous year, full of emotional ups and downs. I often try to remember exactly what I was doing when coronavirus first hit us, and I can’t quite recall much. In conversation with friends and colleagues, I have been asked a question many times: ‘What did I learn from the pandemic?’

The answer to that question is not easy as I didn’t quite learn anything “new” because of the pandemic. But I know for a fact that the learnings I gathered from various experiences throughout my life resurfaced time and again, during this past year, as I tried to keep up with the dynamically changing surroundings. As I write this, I can only reflect upon how the pandemic has changed me, both personally and professionally.

I am a people leader and I am a people person. Social distancing and remote working environments, coupled with all the other nuances of the new normal have tested me to the core, but they have also helped me emerge as a stronger and better equipped leader for my people.

The pandemic has changed how we work, learn, and interact - making room for far greater virtual existence across all spheres of life. It has led us to believe in ourselves more than we ever did and take chances to do what we kept brushing away naively as “impossible”.

Did we ever think that setting up thousands of our colleagues for remote work across India would be possible in less than a week, sometimes in the remotest of locations with network connectivity issues? How could new joiners be onboarded without even a single in-person meeting? What would we do to continue our tradition of hosting annual celebrations?

Turns out, all we needed was a little bit of courage and a motivated team to come up with the brightest of ideas in the most extraordinary circumstances. We did it all and more! My team has been the biggest contributor in making it happen. It is really their unwavering commitment to show up and demonstrate agility that gave me the confidence to overcome the challenges we faced because of this pandemic. Things were planned, re-planned and executed in ways that we never quite realized were possible. But they were possible all along, we just needed to be jolted strongly all at once to re-think that there are more ways than one to make things happen.

Human beings are a species of habit. During this chaos, while many of us experienced panic and anxiety, it also showed us the weight of humanity. It reminded us of who we are, it shrunk us down to equality! And I say that because the virus simply does not choose or discriminate, it treats us all equal and it made us all vulnerable. It took a pandemic for majority of us to remember how important kindness is and being humane is the easiest thing we could do. It connected us at a different level, and it made us realize that we are fragile by ourselves, our strength lies in being part of a community.

The pandemic affected us and continues to do so in different ways. I am sure none of us realized when the lines started to blur between being tired and feeling burnt out. In an organization with cultural values so strong, leading with empathy has been the easiest approach to deliver on our commitment towards our people. Being recognized as one of the Top 10 Best Workplaces in Health and Wellness 2020, conducted by Great Place to Work®, validates our commitment towards our people’s health, safety, and well-being.

The pandemic has changed our lives beyond recognition, and I am thankful to have an amazing team for being the bedrock of S&P Global India, with all their hard work, grit, and determination to power through the difficult time. I am stoked and proud of each one at S&P Global India for always showing up and demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to make us a Great Place to Work, especially this year for the third time consistently!

Despite many adverse circumstances that came along the way, I would not wish (if granted one) to undo the past year for the impact it has had on my life. It is hard to gain a perspective when you are in the middle of such uncertainty; to make sense of what is going on and how the future will emerge. The bigger things set aside; it was truly the little things that helped me find myself.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.