Mihaela Perianu, Managing Partner – Dale Carnegie Romania
- What was the most challenging thing your company, people, and you, personally, had to face in 2020?
The most challenging aspect was understanding what is happening: the magnitude of the pandemics and its effects, the lack of visibility and last but surely not least, the acceptance of what is.
Like most of us, I did not know what to expect in terms of the length and the effects of this pandemic. Therefore, I couldn’t have any projections of the future.
The anxiety of the unknown with the underlying fear for the health of family, friends and colleagues, were my deepest challenges.
- What pleasantly surprised you last year? / What are you grateful for?
We were very happy that we could upskill in just 3 weeks, for the online delivery and that we had the idea of offering to thousands of people, free online training on stress management, remote work, coping methods for what was the new present.
I am very grateful to my colleagues that were willing to learn completely new skills, fast. I am also very grateful for the work done by Dale Carnegie in the United States of America, in tailoring all existing content for the online delivery world.
- What are your plans and expectations for 2021?
Our plan is to continue delivering online programs as well as blended learning options (In-Person combined with Live Online) as we surely look forward to delivering more and more In-Person trainings.
- What do you foresee it will be different this year and what impact it will have on our industry/Romania/your company/your people?
I believe that in the second half of the year, we might see a disruption in our behaviour. Something on the line of ‘enough is enough…’.
If I were to illustrate this (in a dramatic manner), I am imagining the feelings of someone who was told by its parents, for almost a year, that she is not allowed to do what she wants and out of a fear of parental confrontation, she complies to all imposed restrictions. What would she do first when life goes back to a kind of normal? 😊. What would we do first when we can do again, what we desire? What conscious and unconscious frustrations want to explode? I’ve heard that many people will change lanes, some are looking for new careers while others are planning a sabbatical. While some things started in 2019/2020 will carry on into this year, new things will emerge too. 2021 will be a very different year.
- What is your message for the ABSL community?
Agility and compassion. Left brain and right brain. In my belief system, these are the key elements for growth mindset.
- What could we do to grow stronger as a community?
Re-connect as people, get closer through shared experiences and learn more from one another.
- A message for ABSL or a suggestion.
I’d love to have some words of wisdom to share as a conclusion but in the lack of it, I will share that I myself, would like to stay as curios and agile as I can while developing plan A, B, C and D. One might work (fingers crossed 😊).