I saw a tweet that said a person needs to wear a suit to be considered professional. This tweet got me thinking about what makes someone professional.

I certainly don’t think there’s any universal answer to this question, as it depends on the context in which you’re operating.

Casual dress might be perfectly acceptable if not desirable. In other places, wearing a uniform makes sense. While others, shorts and sandals, are perfectly fine.

As we move towards our new reality, talk to your people about what it means to be professional in your context. Don’t assume the norms you were holding on to previously are relevant anymore. Returning to the old definition might even impact how people feel returning to the office.

One good thing about the pandemic is that it’s providing the opportunity to see our world differently. What you do with that is up to you.

You’ve got this.