Trying to do what’s right these days can get pretty disheartening: recently released internal FEMA documents project a worst case scenario of 200,000 new cases and 3000 deaths per day by June 1. We all willingly self-isolated for all these weeks thinking that by now the numbers would be starting to decrease, but this latest information sounds much different than what we were expecting. Even if it turns out not to be that bad, people are starting to get discouraged and antsy, and leaders are having to deal with their employee’s apprehension and growing depression. Most managers were never that good at (or, in many cases, discouraged from) dealing with emotional well-being: it wasn’t one of their core competencies. But now that this door has been opened, asking “are you okay” is part of the new appropriate and, once you go there, you have to be a supportive listener to further rapport and trust. And too, you also have to then (1) be consistent in this approach and, (2) keep a constant pulse on your people now and probably long after a return to something more normal. Even though this may be challenging, just remember that if you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else today.
Booker T. Washington (1856-1915): American Political Leader, Author
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