Managing mixed emotions coming back to the office: Part 1 of 3

As things get back to normal, we will see at least some work travel and some converging in offices once again. 

It will give rise to a great deal of positive emotions, as teams enjoy social contact once more. But it will also see the surfacing of tensions. 

These can be broken into coming out of isolation, impulse control on the part of leaders and vaccination haves and have nots.  

Coming out of isolation 

Emerging from isolation and dipping our toes into social situations again has its parallels with army troops coming back from war and fearing entering society anew. Our skin is very thin, and our senses heightened. One of my clients said that coming out of isolation felt “a bit like flying blind.” 

The crux of the problem comes from feeling as if you’re still in danger, even when…