I love planning, especially planning for a new year with my team at work.

Pre-pandemic, our annual planning day took place with all of us in one room together for a full day of dreaming and scheming over shared snacks…
A day focused on exciting conversations about work and our personal dreams for the years ahead…
Filling the walls with Post-it notes full of ideas and plans…
Heading home at the end of the day feeling energized and excited about all the magic we can make happen in the coming months…

This year with public health restrictions still in place, an in-person planning day isn’t possible and honestly, I was feeling really bummed about it. Our greatest ideas and breakthroughs come from those in-person brainstorming sessions. I struggled for a bit with thinking we need to change it all up using virtual tools but in the end, I decided to go with our usual routine and our first session was magic!

What we’re doing differently:
– connecting our team using video on Microsoft Teams
– Breaking up our agenda over a couple of smaller sessions
– Writing our own notes with our own markers

What stayed the same?
– The planning agenda and steps
– Post-its and whiteboard notes everywhere! (Just not all in the same room)
– Inspiring conversations and high five moments
– Connecting with my people and being reminded about everyone’s passion for the work that we do

Trust the process and go with your gut. It’s ok to plan during a pandemic and it might even be the energy boost you need.