Issue 51: Adjusting to the New Normal
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re still working from home and easing our way into a new world of productivity – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Adjusting to the New Normal
How can anything be normal during these uncertain times? Yet, a sense of normality is slowly taking hold. We’re falling into new schedules and ways of working. Routines are taking shape because it’s human nature to be adaptable. With our staff nestled in their respective homes, Xische continues to see a spike in productivity and a remarkably positive atmosphere around our “digital” water cooler (read: Slack). Perhaps it’s the fact that we’re all in this together or maybe it's the genuine brilliance of the digital tools we have to facilitate work. Whatever it is, we are refining our systems and finding positivity along the way.
Tips and tricks: One way we’ve conquered the physical space between our team members is through a new series filled with tips and tricks to make digital work better. We begin with Mary Ames and Wisam Amid. Among the savviest team members (especially in Wisam’s case), these articles are full of valuable insights that will help your remote workday glide along smoother. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll share more views from a variety of team members. Be sure to look out for a special newsletter dedicated to the future of work.
The struggle isn’t over: These are difficult and uncertain times. We don’t know when things will return to normal and what normal will look like when we get there. The key to successful remote work strategies is to acknowledge what is beyond our control and what isn’t. When you start from this point of empathy, teams solidify and productivity peaks. The challenge will be maintaining this perspective as the days grow into weeks and maybe more. This is the new normal, at least for now.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"If you don’t like someone’s story, write your own.”
Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist
Staying Connected
All of us will face some huge challenges over the coming weeks as we navigate a full transition to remote work amidst this global crisis. At Xische, we remain focused on sharing our insights and tips in this uncertain time. We encourage you to share this newsletter with anyone who you think would enjoy a weekly dose of connectedness. We would also love to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and share your tips and tricks for this new normal by emailing d.farhan@xische.com
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Encapsulating a nation: While most (read: all) of our attention has been focused on the coronavirus crisis, it’s important to take a step back and consider how nations are banding together and rising to this challenge. Last year, we took a deep dive into our process of creating a new identity for the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA). At the time, we had no idea the ideas we were considering in the logo would shine through so strongly right now. Have a look at the process of reflecting in these pieces from our archive.
Outside of the box: Writing in Gulf News, Wisam Amid unpacked Xische’s approach to remote work and explained that the shift didn’t happen overnight. “When the walls of the physical office dissolve,” Amid noted, “opportunities materialize in all directions. From our home base in Dubai, we have partners and collaborators on four continents who regularly interact with our core staff in the UAE.” Head over to Gulf News and read the piece in full.
A MESSAGE FROM EMPOWERING THROUGH
A new paradigm. Now more than ever, the power of people to create and share their experiences is critical to the health of the planet. The challenge is how to celebrate them. At Empowering through, we believe that people are empowered. Our goal is to empower a system to celebrate them. Join us as we create a new economic and social movement together.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Pandemic privacy: Used efficiently, our smartphones can track the spread of covid-19 and inform critical decisions about resource allocation to save lives. Writing in the Asia Times, Xische’s senior editor Joseph Dana argues that we need to harness the power of our technology to curb the spread of covid-19. “While it might sound frightening to grant governments more power over the intimate details of our lives,” Dana writes. “The world is facing an unprecedented situation. We have the tools to curb the spread of this virus dramatically.”
Incredible shifts: There are many unprecedented shifts taking place right now. The global markets, the labor markets, and the healthcare system are all undergoing profound changes. But what about the App Store on your phone? According to Protocol, apps such as Uber and even Google Maps have fallen out of the top charts thanks to the spread of covid-19. It’s likely we will never see shifts like this again (at least, we hope not). Open your app store and witness the drama unfolding in real-time.
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