Don't let the Covid Lockdown lead to an Emotional Lockdown

Recently I was talking to some industry leaders about the current situation, and some stances I heard were:

‘No, I’m not anxious or worried. What is, is. We will deal with whatever happens.”

‘How will anxiety or panic help?’

‘We wait for things to go back to new normal; and I know we’ll bounce back’.

This set alarm bells ringing for me.

While this is a fully rational position to take, this unprecedented shutdown with severe economic repercussions is bringing a lot of uncertainty, unknowns and unknowables.

We neither want an emotional reaction leading to panic and paralysis (which can lead to an emotional-shutdown leading to fatigue and procrastination), nor do we want to numb ourselves and get into an overdrive of rush and busyness.

In the current situation anxiety, fear, confusion, uncertainty, is natural and inevitable. Pausing and feeling fully will help us become grounded and accept that while there are no answers visible, yet we have to do everything we can to cover our flanks. For example, as Deepak Parekh said in his address, at a senior planning level, make a team A and B: One to tackle the current situation ,one to prepare for the future of two years from now.

We have to relook at old paradigms and earlier priorities, revamp, reskill, reinvent, reboot, which requires a lot of unlearning.

One emotion which will propel us (or kick us) to do this is anxiety (or fear, or concern, or worry- you can choose your word). It will help leaders to frame suitable communications as a response to the fear of their employees; and form a human connect.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel in her address to the nation laid out some cold, hard facts on the coronavirus in a way that few other leaders have. She wanted to make clear that “We are not yet able to offer solutions in all areas.” “This is putting our solidarity, our common sense and our openheartedness for one another to the test,” she said. “I hope that we will pass it.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her COVID-19 speech also addressed these emotions: “I understand that, people are afraid and anxious. … What we need from you, is support one another. Go home tonight and check in on your neighbours. Start a phone tree with your street. Plan how you'll keep in touch with one another. We will get through this together, but only if we stick together. Be strong and be kind”.

Both leaders reassured people, they talked facts and also acknowledged the difficult emotions we are experiencing.

We need to be afraid, and make friends with this fear.

As American actress Dorothy Bernard said: ‘Courage is Fear that has said its prayers’.

This is a time of downsizing, upheavel and stress.
Contact us for coaching to help you feel grounded, recharged and cope with the new normal.