It’s been a strange old world these last 18 months, strange starting a new role for a new company in lockdown, strange not seeing many people in general, let alone clients, but it looks like we’re near the end, I hope, of the strangeness.

I’ve been luckier than many over this time: a new role which I love, a new baby who I love more and good health.

I’ve got used to Teams and Zoom, and who knew those were tools we could use every day to do our jobs. Working from home has been my normal for many years, about 20 at the last count, so that hasn’t been a challenge and Hymans Robertson have been nothing short of brilliant to work for.

Video calls have been a revelation for meeting up with clients, and for meeting new, prospective clients, as you do at least get to see a face to talk with, though I have missed meeting people in real life, face to face and chatting over a coffee, getting that connection and engaging like we used to be able to do.

So how does this work going forward? Do we meet or keep Zooming? If we meet, do we shake hands, fist bump, touch elbows (not a fan!) and can I get back into that suit (no!), do we need to wear suits? But more than that how does face to face now make people feel? Do we still want to do this or are we happy with the new way? A mixture of both I suspect and a variety of views across that spectrum.

The one thing this last 18 months has taught me is that we adapt, work it out, flex to what works for the people we want to work with, be accommodating and get on with it.

The old rule book on how to do business has gone, welcome to the new world!!