My page has been quiet lately while I try and process everything going on around us. I haven’t had the energy…or frankly the wisdom to post anything worthwhile. And, I’ll be honest, I’ve written this post half a dozen times. Deleted. Re-written. Never finding exactly what I want to say.
I’m frustrated by so much bad advice being posted. From people with terrible work-from-home tips (“walk out the front door and into the back door to symbolize you’re at work.” This was REAL ADVICE!), the bro-culture people still going on and on about “crushing it” and bad managers pretending that the situation is normal and we should just be “working harder” (again, an actual post).
My social media feeds are polluted with extremism, from conspiracy theories about “the media” to outright denial that there’s any virus.
What’s missing from all of this is what’s truly needed:
Grace.
Compassion.
Patience.
Understanding.
I have two notes. One to those who manage and one to employees:
Dear Managers,
Not all KPIs are going to be hit. #SorryNotSorry Adding more pressure to your people isn’t going to magically fix what’s going on in the world. There are things completely outside of their control. Threatening them, breathing down their necks, demanding instant responses to your IMs? Doesn't change that. And that's not how you manage in a crisis. You lead from the front. You tell them it's going to be OK. You ask if they are OK. Be transparent. Prioritize. This is your chance to really grow as a manager and leader.
Dear Employees,
Your managers are likely doing their best. This is new to them too. They haven’t experienced anything like this before. There are no books, podcasts or TedTalks out there to show them the way. So, over-communicate. Ask for help. Let them know what KPIs are in danger and why. Brainstorm with them. Your managers may not say this, but they really need you right now.
To both employees and employers…we’re in this together. We employees need the paycheck (and frankly the distraction that work brings to help keep us sane)…so, we’re doing all we can to help you (employer) keep the lights on. But recognize that our kids are home with us; scared, anxious, nervous, with a ton of pent-up energy. They are in school and needing help. VPNs are failing. Our elderly parents need us to check in on them. Our clients have the same demands on their schedule, so, no, they aren’t going to pickup the phone or instantly respond to me. But we are doing our best.
It’s not all going to be perfect. We can’t practice denial and say it’s “business as usual” because it’s not. I don’t care if you’re an SVP of whatever and put out a super-important, all-staff email…it’s not business as usual. We’re going to stumble. We’re going to be bruised. But if we all do the best we can? That’s all anyone can really ask out of us.
But here’s the caution: everyone’s “best” is different. You don’t get to judge someone else’s “best.” In fact, your best today may not be the same as your best tomorrow. And that’s OK. Every day do your best…and whatever that may be that’s OK.
We are absolutely going to make it through this. Even the strongest storms eventually fade away. To quote Tom Hanks in Castaway:
“Keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. And who knows what the tide may bring in.”
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