“Hope is a discipline”
Credit for this affirmation goes to American activist Mariame Kaba, whose website boldly states the obvious, “We need each other.”
Hope is a discipline. And we do need each other. Especially in this moment.
During this week when Coronavirus seems to have changed everything around us – faster than we could have possibly imagined – it’s as easy to feel like you (or others) are overreacting.
You’re not.
Psychiatrists call this an adjustment reaction. It’s an emotional dress rehearsal, and it gives us the space we need to get psychologically ready for the change. It’s also a strategic rehearsal, one that helps us sort through data, plans and strategies to determine a course of action.
The impact of this new Coronavirus has barely reached our community, and it has already proven its power as a disrupter.
During times of disruption and change, leadership is a gift. Your best leadership is a catalyst for inspiration, courage and action. It is a gift, one that is badly needed by the people in your life. Your best strategic thinking, the conversations you choose to have, the guidance you give – it matters now.
Our small team of strategists, community facilitators, organizational change experts, and leadership coaches know full well the disorienting power of disruptive change. And we know that it is essential to anchor ourselves – and our families, teams, organizations, and communities – with clarity and purpose.
We believe that each of us, as leaders in our organizations and communities, have real opportunities to support, reassure, and inspire others with our words – and our actions. As we move through the disruption created by Covid 19, our team at Floricane is holding onto four powerful concepts to guide our work.:
HOPE: We agree with Mariame Kaba. Hope is a discipline. During times of uncertainty and anxiety, we must give hope room to exercise and strengthen. To move through change requires focus, determination, and faith. “Faith,” Martin Luther King, Jr. told us, “is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Lead with confidence, and lead with forward motion.
COMMUNITY: It is too easy to feel alone during times of disruption. When the prescription for a pandemic involves remote work, social distancing, and 14 day quarantines, we must find new ways of being in community, in relationship, with coworkers, clients, friends, and family. Start talking now with those around you about the ways you’ll stay connected. Make time to check in often, about things that matter.
ADAPTABILITY: The velocity we’re experiencing – even over the past 24 hours – can be paralyzing. But just as change closes some doors, it opens others. Your ability to continuously scan the landscape is critical. More important? Your ability to engage others to collaboratively uncover new ways to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Ensuring that your team is sharing observations, perspectives and ideas regularly will help you navigate the inevitable rapids.
STRATEGY: We are, of course, fans of strategic plans. Smart planning, especially in times of crisis, provides the direction, guidance, and alignment that teams need. Knowing how you’ll stay healthy, address challenges, support the needs of your clients or customers, communicate, and sustain your organization through this period is no small challenge. Write this one in pencil, and make sure everyone has a copy.
The worst thing we can do in this moment is wait for the storm to pass. Our actions now will not only help our community navigate this immediate storm, but it will set the tone for what follows.
Our team is ready to help you and your team adapt, plan, and move forward. Let us know how you’re responding to Covid 19, and let us know how we can support you. Schedule a time now for us to strategize – by phone or Zoom.