This is an unprecedented moment worldwide. We should come together and fight this battle against the novel coronavirus with a sense of responsibility and keep calm throughout. COVID-19 has already affected people we know, our company, our customers, our communities and our countries that we care deeply about. There is no playbook for this unprecedented moment in time, not even the experts know how it will play out.
Like what we are doing at Etech, leaders should play a vital role in helping organizations tackle this moment of crisis and keep their people safe.
Are you leading the right way to help your people beat COVID-19 at the workplace?
Here are some points we can all consider as we navigate together through this challenging time.
Lead with facts, not fear
The situation surrounding COVID-19 is changing minute by minute. Your job as a leader is not to make it seem any better or worse than it is but to stay informed and communicate with clarity, candor, and care.
Surface and dispel rumors
When we humans perceive a gap, we just try to simply fill it, but this doesn’t always suffice the situation. If we do not address ungrounded rumors with facts, this will be damaging to our people, our work culture, and our business.
Don’t forget about the human connection
COVID-19 is reorganizing the way many organizations think about work. As much as we want to minimize, I expect organizations worldwide will be heavily engaged in Work from Home temporary stopgaps. These social-distancing strategies make sense for flattening the growth of the virus. Yet, they can unwittingly foster employee loneliness, a loss of “team,” and erosion in the company culture. You, as leaders, cannot allow that. It would help if you continued to communicate regularly with your team members by any and all means possible.
Focus on self-care
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Global economist Thierry Malleret claims, “Leading a well life boosts our immune system and is, therefore, one of the possible antidotes to the virus.” We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves fine-tuned – mind, body & spirit. You can also help your team members to boost their immunity and cope with stress by encouraging them to get enough sleep, physically move throughout the day, put precise boundaries on how often they check Coronavirus media, consciously breathing when worries arise, engaging in ways to be grateful, staying connected with others, and eating well.
Make plans for recovery
Our people may feel so consumed by this crisis that it is hard to imagine it ending. Please continue to remind your teams that we will get through this crisis. As some countries already are seeing some light on the other side of this pandemic, now is the time for us also to not only plan our contingency but evaluate how our recovery efforts can strengthen the capabilities and wellbeing of our workforce. How can we capture real learnings uncovered during this crisis that will benefit our people, our customers, and our companies in the long run? Are there any other opportunities to seize in the chaos?
As the Coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen day by day, leaders of organizations should review and summarize guidance for fighting against this pandemic. As each workplace and workforce is different, leaders should seek advice specific to their circumstances.
Continue to keep your thoughts and prayers with each of your team members, their families, and loved ones during this time.
