My good friend Dr. Andy Gillentine and I are writing a book based upon my last lecture at the USF Vinik program in 2019 called “WWID — What Would I Do.” We recently met with another good friend, Dan Migala, for some feedback on the manuscript. Dan voiced his opinion that the book could play an important role because there is a real lack of people willing to invest in and develop young talent as it enters the workplace.

I’ve given this void some consideration and here are my thoughts:

I hate to blame COVID (I will anyway), but it played a key role in expanding the void that existed and exacerbated its growth. Think about it: Most development and exchange originates in a face-to-face encounter, and that ended with our self-imposed isolation during the pandemic. Leaders and managers were placed in a situation they had never experienced and for which they lacked a playbook or game plan — managing and motivating remote workers and developing their talents and skills.

Staff meetings were awkward, even with a gallery view, as people popped in and out, babies cried and dogs barked. Focus was a desired outcome but often didn’t materialize. Social interaction was almost completely absent, and with it the idea of informal learning and development contributions from one’s peers. Managers learned that managing remotely was very time-consuming, and what might have been handled in one small group now required numerous Zoom calls just to communicate what needed to be done and where........

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