When HBR asked readers a few weeks ago what they had learned in 2021, it became obvious just how true it is that this was the year of the “new normal.” Many of the reader comments echoed last year’s — we discovered new ways of working remotely, we built resilience even in the face of loss, and we found new purpose in the work we do — but this year, as we remain mired in the global Covid crisis, those lessons have a deeper undercurrent of permanence.
HBR Readers Reflect on 2021
Takeaways from another challenging year.
December 28, 2021
Summary.
When HBR asked readers what they learned in 2021, lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic took center stage. Readers said they learned not only how to work remotely better, but that they valued their colleagues and in some cases had a new appreciation for the office as a place to connect. Echoing this more deeply, readers said they had learned the importance of connecting — with friends, family, and colleagues. They also reported a great deal of self-discovery, whether it was a new understanding of what was important in their lives, or finding ways to achieve new goals.