The headline wasn't all that promising[1]: "The Next Great Disruption Is Hybrid Work -- Are We Ready?"
No, of course we're not ready. We were never ready for the pandemic[2]. We were never ready for mass working from home. We're never ready.
This headline came from a company that itself wasn't exactly ready for working from home, Microsoft[3]. Right beneath its nostrils, a company called Zoom[4] came along and stole hegemony over a means of communication that Microsoft might, itself, have already mastered.
Yet Microsoft has tried to catch up with its Teams[5] and has clearly devoted much thought to our what-the-hell-is-happening world.
In July, Redmond analyzed what was going on inside its own (virtual) world and discovered some horrific facts[6]. Sample: 52% of the company's IMs were being sent between 6pm and midnight.
More recently, though, the company wondered whether we're ready for the hybrid thing and released a Work Trend Index[7], which tried to paint a more complete picture of the work-life COVID has wrought.
Yes, there's another great disruption coming a year after the last great disruption. Don't you wish that disruptions would auto-disrupt and leave us to a little peace?
The Boss Is Having A Great Time. How About You?
Some of the headlines from Microsoft's work are clear and predictable. Hybrid work will be the new, new thing. Workers are currently exhausted and Gen Z is especially trailing in the wake of the changes.
It was, though, another aspect that offered such a brutal exposition of what's really going on.
Sixty-one percent of leaders described themselves as "thriving."
"You what?" you might mutter. "I'm desperately trying to work out of