Running a business in a COVID crisis (episode #3)

It’s been a big week. We’re into the new normal now. Three weeks of WFH and the days in the agency are a distant memory. The living room/bedroom/study (if you’re lucky) is the office. And everyone is dealing with it differently.

Compassion is key

I realised the importance of acknowledging everyone’s unique domestic context. Last week I started to appreciate how differently we’re all handling this new normal.

The first couple of weeks we were busy adapting. That was enough of a focus to unite us and distract us. We’re passed that now. And minds and emotions are free to wonder. 

On Tuesday one of the team shared a heart wrenching story about a family dinner that ended in arguments. For no particular reason. But the insight was profound. Every person at the meal was under pressure. And they were all dealing with it in their own way. The issue wasn’t the point being argued. It was the failure to appreciate that everyone was feeling differently.

And therein lies an incredibly powerful learning. Every single one of us is experiencing stress right now, whether we realise it or not. We’re also human beings. And the way humans respond to stress is to increasingly see things from their own point of view. It’s a natural defence mechanism. But there is a significant consequence; we become less compassionate. And that can have huge negative impacts.

It’s all so obvious in hindsight, but I can think of countless times where I’ve slipped on this - without even realising. 

The obvious examples are easier to understand: Big deadline. Reliance on something from someone else. For whatever reason it doesn’t arrive as expected. Rant ensues. Both parties leave unhappy. Not good. But relatively easy to prevent with good self awareness.

The bigger risk right now is the hidden anxiety and stress - the anxieties and stresses that maybe we don’t even recognise in ourselves. Because if we don’t know we’re feeling these emotions we won’t be aware of the potential implications. Before we know it we’re unwittingly acting in a way that alienates or even hurts our colleagues. Thereby creating more stress and anxiety. Negative vortex ensues (and workload increases to recover the situation).

So how to prevent this?

R U OK?

The 5th pillar of our values is ‘We take care of each other’. The description reads ‘We don’t have to be friends, just brothers and sisters’. I’ve always liked those words. Now I’m starting to understand just how important they are.

We are in the midst of unprecedented change. There are enormous uncertainties for all of us. It’s impossible not to feel some anxiety. But it’s really important to understand that’s OK. In fact it’s really, really normal. 

Just as siblings have a deep seated loyalty to each other, even if they aren’t best mates, so the same applies to our colleagues. We’ve always had a unique dependency on each other. The current situation is making that more explicit. And just like siblings there is greatness in supporting and protecting each other. Even if we aren’t mates outside of work. 

It takes courage to act in this way. And it doesn’t always come naturally. As a bloke who went to an all boys boarding school I can assure you I’m one of those! But what I am discovering is that you can learn these skills. And surprisingly rapidly. 

Some of the most fulfilling conversations I had last week are when people have opened up on how they’re feeling. It’s a brave thing to do. And it’s humbling to hear someone tell you they don’t feel 100%. Knowing how they feel we have the opportunity to adapt our style. The relationship strengthens, you achieve more and you both feel better.

On that note, I hope you are all OK? If you want to shoot the breeze, have a whinge or riff on ways to solve a problem, hit me up.