“I kept my promise – don’t keep your distance” is the final plea from the song ‘Don’t cry for me Argentina’, originally a UK no 1 by Julie Covington from the play Evita and later a hit from the film by Madonna.
How times change! During lockdown and particularly as lockdown is loosening, the plea is ‘Keep your distance’. Known as ‘social distancing’ but it is really ‘physical distancing’ and nothing to do with ‘social’.
One of the more interesting features of the ‘two metres’, is just how different it is from social practice with different nationalities.
The Spanish who live with many people in small flats and frequently gather in cafés to socialise and exchange two kisses with even virtual strangers, are having a great challenge. By contrast, the Swedes who typically live alone, are used to keeping distance even with people they know, ins and so they are less likely to find this a problem.
Extrovert or Introvert?
To make life more complicated, some people have been happy (working) at home during lockdown, others who have the constant need to communicate face to face with others all the time, are desperate to go out and are suffering from Zoom overkill, but they cannot give it up. Of course, it depends whether you are at home alone, or with a group of other people.
Your propensity for remote working will depend upon your Behavioral Preference Profile. Everyone has individual characteristics as to how they actually are, and for each person there are suggestions as to how you may get better at it. You can learn about
- Remote working – How can we be more productive & manage frustrations?
- Resilient strengths – How can we play to our real strengths?
- Handling setbacks – How can we manage challenges?
- Role agility – How do we react to change?
- Enabling engagement – How can we stay motivated?
We would love to help you explore this further so do get in touch.
I kept my distance –
you keep your promise.
“There is nothing more I can think of to say to you.
But all you have to do is look at me to know that every word is true”
Written by David Rigby
Lyrics courtesy Webber/Rice and article inspired by discussion with journalist Lekko Saunders (instagram: artea2010)