It’s times like these you learn to live again
It’s times like these you give and give again
It’s times like these you learn to love again
It’s times like these time and time again.
-Foo Fighters
In times of crisis, true leaders distinguish themselves. In how they interact and guide their colleagues. In how they communicate externally to any and all audiences that are important. Honestly, passionately, informatively. In recent days we have just about seen it all, with realities and scenarios we have never before seen nor experienced.
Food banks mobilizing and expanding to bring fresh food to even more people in need in the wake of mass layoffs. Business advisory firms imparting wisdom to companies and small business aimed at financial survival. Non-profit organizations offering new, virtual/online resources to parents for their kids at home. City downtown development authorities creating portals of information for retailers and restaurants with platforms for communicating everything from operating best practices and pivots to financial assistance.
We have been gratified to collaborate with such leaders and organizations and more on how best to develop new programs and initiatives, create messaging around them, and deliver it to those they need to reach. Oftentimes, this has been through communications platforms that perhaps these entities have never before utilized, at least not on this scale — including webinars and podcasts — with one member-organization, in fact, preparing to debut a “tech town hall” this week. All of us are no doubt using the tried and trues of conference calls and Zoom on levels never before. This includes, of course, the media who have turned largely to Skype and similar mediums for all outside interviews. They too have shown tremendous grace under fire and fast and furious deadlines.
Adversity tests the mettle of each and every one of us. And while we may pensively await the days ahead, it remains rewarding, despite various degrees of self-isolation, to collaborate, partner, and counsel. To stay busy, for goodness sake, with minds focused on work, family and others. To provide value and perspective aimed at a greater good and keeping us all safe, healthy and connected – time and time again.