What Trends Can We Reflect on From 2021?

There have been some interesting trends that came out of 2020 and held steady into 2021. I’ve found that the need for personal interaction, and the fact that this has persisted long after the quarantine was over, likely is an indicator that we were desperately in need of stronger relationships. We’re shifting away from just punching a time clock, instead focusing on personal fulfillment as a part of our occupations. 

eCommerce – if the pandemic taught us anything, it was the need to be flexible. If your business was brick and mortar, you likely had to make a quick shift to online sales. How has your product delivery shifted in the last year, and where do you see it headed? Are you ready for in-person sales? Are you staying on a completely digital path or a hybrid of the two? 

Personalizing client/team interactions – one thing I noticed right away when the pandemic began, and what continued to be prevalent throughout the following year, was the need for personal connection and interaction. Many colleagues of mine continued to work remotely and found the need for personal connection within a business environment essential for their well-being. I had teams that met by a traditional conference call that changed platforms to video calls. I thought that the novelty would wear off, but 18 months later, we’re still on Zoom. 

We need a personal connection; it can be as simple as picking up the phone to chat with a client versus an email or sending a handwritten note along with a product. We need to feel valued now more than ever.

Being a part of an online community – along with personalizing client/team interactions, we miss in-person networking. Depending on where they’re geographically located, some groups are still struggling to meet face to face. Creating an online community that continues to facilitate relationships was just as important in 2021 as it was in 2020 and is definitely a trend that we can anticipate will continue into 2022.

Social responsibility – living through quarantine and working remotely, gave us more time to focus on global issues and inequalities. We witnessed the world become smaller and our reach greater with the digital age. With COVID, we saw how small our world had become and how intertwined our people and systems had become. It is more evident than ever that “their” problems can quickly become ours, and if we want a stronger future, we need to be aware of the challenges beyond our borders.

We want to hear from you!

What trends did you see emerge in 2021? What trends would you like to hold steady or disappear as we welcome the New Year? Leave a comment below, or visit our Facebook page to become a part of our online community.