Now Is the Time to Show What We Are Made Of
I never thought I'd say this and yet, here we are - the whole of Italy is now officially on lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The dominant feeling in the country is that of overwhelming uncertainty.
The lock-down paradox
The last time I experienced a similar decree taking force was during the Martial Law in Poland in 1981.
Back then, it was the Polish communist government that drastically restricted normal life in an attempt to crush political opposition. Now, it's the Italian government taking a bold decision to slow down the spread of the virus and save lives.
The strange thing with the martial law back then - and the lock-down in Italy right now - is that, paradoxically, they ended up bringing people closer together.
So, what does it feel like to be in lockdown?
There's a sense of solidarity and caring for one another. The alienating effects of our busy lives loosen their grip on us.
We decide to stop chasing chimeras for a moment and focus on what matters instead. We ask: "Are you all right?," or "Do you need anything?" - and, perhaps for the first time in a long while, we really mean it.
This sense of solidarity, almost tribal unity, is one of the most significant potential upsides of any crisis. Perhaps that's why soldiers miss the war and my parents' generation still feels occasional pangs of nostalgia for their lives under the communist regime.
The unique opportunity we all get now
Sure, difficult times like the ones we are experiencing right now are an excellent opportunity to test our agility and strengthen our resilience.
But they are way more than that - they are an opportunity to experience and demonstrate our most profound humanity.
Now is the time to show what we are made of.
Please keep that in mind when you are dealing with the inevitable fallout of the Covid-19 in your business. It's in circumstances like these that the company culture is truly shaped.
With every difficult decision you make, you get a wonderful gift - a unique opportunity to walk the talk, live your values, do the right thing, and galvanize the culture you were so carefully cultivating.
Here is to emerging stronger on the other side of this!
Change Management Lead and Organisational Learning @ Catalyst Change Consulting | Founder and Director
4 年"Now is the time to show what we are made of"...indeed. Thanks Aga-It is certainly a time for the wisdom of leaders to shine the light for us!
One of the most profound pieces I've read from you Aga Bajer?- and you've already set a high benchmark. Kudos for this excellent succinct provocation.
Media and Communications Specialist | Social Media, Television, Radio, Print and Public Relations | A passionate advocate for all people
4 年Excerpt: "There's a sense of solidarity and caring for one another. The alienating effects of our busy lives loosened their grip on us. We decided to stop chasing chimeras for a moment and focus on what matters instead. We ask: "Are you all right?," or "Do you need anything?" - and, perhaps for the first time in a long while, we really mean it. This sense of solidarity, almost tribal unity, is one of the most significant potential upsides of any crisis." Inspired perspective.
Empowering leaders to transform culture for business success, employee thriving, and ethical impact | Author of You Can Culture | Co-founder of Heart Management | Podcast host
4 年So true!