I’m privileged to work with many business owners, corporate executives, and nonprofit board presidents. Add all the general members of associations and charities led by founders and managers with whom I interact. So, I have watched how all respond to our current health and economic challenges. At first, it started with understandable disbelief that then moved to a wait-and-see attitude. It didn’t take long for life and business strategies to be upended for a lot longer than they imagined.
Since there is no playbook for leaders when it comes to global disruption, “experts” have rushed in with thousands of webinars, none with presenters any wiser than you or I. But we scoured the Internet and hit on links we hoped would provide answers. By now you’ve realized that there is a sameness about the well-meant sessions. “We’re all in this together” just isn’t the calming directive leaders seek.
Sometimes we find the answers in undiscovered caves of calm from our employees, friends, and even our children who may be thinking more clearly than a company president worried about their stock prices, idled ships off the coast stacked with aging inventory and employees with families to feed. Leadership is not easy. People look to us for answers. You don’t have to have all the answers. Wisdom can be fleeting after all. Our environment is changing almost by the hour.
No one had a heads up. Who among us hasn’t wished we’d bought stock in companies making plexiglass, home delivery platforms, and Weyerhauser? Yes, with stay-at-home DIYers doing home improvement, 46% building decks, fences and pergolas to improve their homes, plus restaurants building al fresco seating areas, lumber futures are up over 85%. Staycations are here to stay (ahem).
Answers often come from asking questions and listening to those outside your “circle.” Seek advice, stories, and webinars from those in very different fields to find your own battle cry beyond “We’re all in this together.”
