A Message of Hope Amid the Uncertainty of COVID-19:
Wow, how quickly things can change and how quickly our world can be turned upside down. Your business had been thriving and growing and overnight you are spending sleepless nights wondering how you are going to survive. It feels like a freight train has just run over you and you are scared and wondering how you can protect your employees, provide for your family, and survive this crisis. And most disconcerting of all, you have no idea when this crisis will end and recovery begin.
Start by being realistic and acknowledge that we are in a crisis, things are currently very difficult, we are all in the same boat, we are scared, and don’t know when this is going to end. Encourage everyone to follow the recommendations of our health officials and government leaders. Be smart in your behaviors, practice social distancing, wash hands frequently, and don’t go out if you do not need to. Don’t let fear immobilize you. Focus on what you can control and what you can do today to help others, to brighten someone’s day, help them survive this crisis, and assure them this will end and we will come through this.
In your business, focus on determining what is the most critical goal? This should be a single number that if achieved will not only allow your business to survive, but be positioned to thrive once this crisis is past. (And it will pass). Bring everyone in your company together, (virtually, conference call, video conference) get agreement on what that number is, and then put together and execute the plans required to achieve this number. Track it every day, work the problem, brainstorm initiatives, take the necessary actions, and become razor sharp focused on achieving this number. Make the hard decisions necessary to survive while remembering to keep your people first. Motivate, coach, and encourage everyone. Celebrate frequently and often as you move to achieve this number.
A crisis like this provides an opportunity to sharpen our focus, pull together as a team, work to support each other more effectively, rally around defeating a common enemy (COVID19 Virus), and brings out the best in people.
Everyone is looking for what they can do to survive and thrive. Get your organization focused and get their mind off the crisis and on what you can do together (while respecting social distancing and working remotely) to come through and thrive after the crisis.
A crisis like this sharpens your focus, forces you to look at things differently, and take action you would not take during normal circumstances. It allows the ingenuity of your people to shine and results in developing innovative solutions to difficult and pressing problems.
For some further ideas that could help your business survive and thrive read the article on “How can I generate enough cash to survive this crisis?”
“The Ultimate Measure of a man (woman) is not where he (she) stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he (she) stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
