Living in Times of Covid-19

Posted on April 6, 2020 as a blog on Medium, today I read this article again and it still makes total sense. Whilst not much has changed, we have learnt to manage the unknown and stay indoors, when possible and assess business impact in our business world whilst continuing to prioritize the value of human life above all.

We are all living in unprecedented times with this pandemic of COVID-19 looming large. It is rather easy to feel vulnerable, confused and perhaps, frustrated with all the changes that this situation asks of us to make. I must say, it also takes immense courage to brave through the situation, especially for those who are in the field, battling the pandemic on a war footing across the globe. A big salute to our health workers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab specialists, police officers and many others, who are working tirelessly to make our world truly safe.

Our Vital Role

This is a collective fight that asks of each one of us to contribute by staying away and at home, if possible. If our role in society or our role in the world of business does not permit it, then I urge you to stay safe by practicing the necessary caution to the fullest extent possible.

This is a war waged at each one of us that has to be fought by being compliant, by being hygiene-conscious and by practicing social distancing. In caring for ourselves personally, we commit to caring for others and thus, caring for all the people across the world.

I ask of each one of you to live your role in this consciously and conscientiously.

The World of Business- Test of Leadership

This impacts us all alike, be it if you are at home or if you are going to office to make a living. This tells us that we are at risk and we are, also, at risk of risking others.

The world of business has come to a slow still with only the very critical and essential functions continuing to operate. This calls for leadership that is clear, decisive and transparent. Prioritizing the safety of human beings is our foremost priority and thus, work from home measures are called upon as a necessity. Whilst work from home may not be new for some, the scale and duration are, clearly, firsts of its kind. A big thanks to the IT teams that have been critical enablers for making this a success. For those who need to operate from office, their leaders are called upon to make necessary efforts to keep them safe.

The notion of 100% ‘business as usual’ stands fully contested. Leaders, also, need to be practical on what can be achieved and what cannot be. A crisis of this nature calls for constituting Crisis Management Teams with expertise across areas, who can assess and monitor the situation. The decisions are to be made quick and yet, be very thorough. This is an iterative process as there is always room for improvement, so seeking feedback from relevant stakeholders, both externally and internally on real time basis is the secret sauce of getting this right each day. This is a test of humanity and of leadership alike — I feel energized and positive by what I see around.

Unknown vs Known

Whilst we respond to challenges, we need to be planning for multiple scenarios. It requires proactive preparedness and continuous re-evaluation of the risks involved. Hence, activating your industry and social network is key. If there was a time to reach out to your network, it is now.

Remember, in times such as these, communication and over-communication is a big need. There are people looking up to you for guidance, assurance and support. Amplify the positive facts, use data to acknowledge the scale and intensity of the situation at hand and importantly, share your leadership and your control of the situation. When there are clouds of darkness and all seem to be enveloped in it, one needs to look towards the light as it guides you to the right direction.

In times of uncertainty and chaos, when you tend to think all is unknown, you must look around and secure your knowledge of what is known — that will act as your source of comfort. In my personal view, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Remind people of what has not changed, and how that known is larger than any unknown that they will face.

In a digitized world, where news spreads rapidly, it is important to remain transparent and ensure that your messaging is clear, concise and dipped in data. The aim is, obviously, to minimize the impact on people, process and infrastructure. In hindsight, it might seem intuitive, but it takes objective decision-making and a balanced, decisive and assured mind to sail through the storm.

Ours to Write

Each one of us ought to step up and take ownership to solve the problem at hand, in ways we can. It is about how well we collaborate to prioritize the near-term and short-term needs. It is also important to bear in mind the possible long-term implications of our actions that will create a sense in survivors to tell a positive tale of having been there, done that and feats of courage and wisdom written for generations to come.

I am an eternal optimist who has an outline of a wonderfully positive story wherein we stayed home, socially isolated and did our best collectively to overcome this pandemic. We survived, bearing in our hearts the pain of those who did not and lived our years ahead differently by empathizing more, caring more and sharing more.

People First — Our Only Focus

Humanity is a must at all times and these times remind us of just that and even more. Always keep people first, while focusing on business needs.

Our guidance to our people has to be to prioritize themselves and their loved ones’ well-being by practicing social distancing, working from home, and maintaining personal hygiene at all times. It is important to acknowledge that individuals will go through stress, fear and pain, recognize their needs and provide the necessary support. Most importantly, stay connected!

My heart goes to each one who is exposed to this pandemic. Let us do our bit to be aware of our responsibilities and keep our communities safe both locally and globally. We are, indeed, one big global village, connected by more ways than one can possibly imagine.

We will come out of this stronger together!

~ Until next time,

Supria Dhanda

https://medium.com/@supriadhanda/times-of-covid-19-39fb45aeb999