I’ve learned to have an abundance of patience this past year and a half! And this will certainly continue post-pandemic.
Things and events that we used to take for granted, we really have to think about how we go about doing them; prior to venturing out and doing. Everything has changed. What used to be simple tasks are currently planned out and extra time should be allotted.
Take, for instance, shopping, for those of us who still enjoy brick-and-mortar malls. Nowadays, store hours are shortened or appointments must be made ahead of time. Many shops have closed. Not to mention, most retailers are now short-staffed. You may have to call ahead, wait in longer lines, or have to come back with an appointment. It’s no longer that we can just head out to our favorite boutique whenever we wish.
Customer Service call centers have really taken a toll during this time. We have come to expect much longer response times. What used to be a quick phone call, today can turn into hours on hold. Online chatbots also are no longer instantaneous. It could take minutes up to an hour before receiving a return message. Companies have cut back and demand is very high. Cut the associate some slack when they finally do answer your request.
Many restaurants have cut back their days to only serve Thursday-Sunday. Make sure to call ahead and talk to a live person when inquiring about hours. Because their recordings may be dated, and many times, the online hours are incorrect. Some establishments are no longer taking reservations. Which means 1-2 hour waits just to get seated. When you finally do make it into the restaurant, wait times to be acknowledged and served are exponentially longer. Again, have patience and give the wait staff a break. If there is only one cook in the back, the food can only be served as fast as it’s cooked. Not to mention, staff still has to take extra time to properly clean and take sanitary precautions to serve use safely.
Dare I say travel? Specifically, air travel. On a recent trip I arrived extra early at the airport, but was still shocked by the longer lines and the time through security. There are fewer TSA agents, although they still have to take their time scanning luggage, for everyone’s safety. Once inside the airport, some of the merchants were not open. Have a Plan B on where to get a bite to eat or purchase a magazine.
The best way to handle this for me is to realize it’s not only out of my control but also out of the control of those on the serving end. They are doing the best they can with the limited resources they have. Use that “waiting time” to send a friend a note, or pay a bill, or read a book. We all have smart phones and can access just about anything, at any time, from anywhere. Don’t waste your time fuming, use it to be productive. And remember to smile. It goes a long way!
The long and short of it is, be prepared for the unexpected. The new norm is to expect anything but normal. When I do receive superior service, it is a pleasant surprise. What used to be consistent is no longer a constant. Pack Your Patience!
About the Author
Lisa Ann Seidl is a seasoned marketing professional. Lisa’s passion lies in trade show management and project management strategy. She led high-performing teams and executed flawless events, including virtual production. She is fluid with social media and driving demand generation. She makes brands come alive and helps companies bring their vision to life through experiential, digital, and content marketing by adopting project management and relationship-building expertise. On the side, Lisa helps small businesses with social media and media planning through her consulting firm, GLAS Communications.
Lisa earned her Associate’s Degree in Marketing at Macomb Community College and studied at University of Phoenix.
She and her husband, Gary, co-founded Tee It Up 4 Ovarian Cancer charity. They raised funds and increased awareness for ovarian cancer. Lisa has belonged to other networking groups – Inforum Michigan, Women in Manufacturing, SME, and Women Industrial Supply Executives. She was co-chair of Alley’s Manufacturing Committee, in which several events were tailored after.
Lisa enjoys traveling around North America and Europe. Italy is her favorite destination, and has cousins in the southern part of Calabria. Librandi Winery is one of their ventures, where the vino is distributed around the world. She and Gary golf for leisure. On her bucket list are Pebble Beach and Pinehurst. And her book club keeps her active with diverse reading.
