A mentor, friend and client of mine shared this interesting progression of phases we are all experiencing as we transition during these times of Coronavirus. As leaders, we need to understand these, and we need to appreciate that our team members move through these at different rates. Your responsibility as a leader is to guide your team members through each phase as quickly as possible.
COPE – By definition, cope means to “deal effectively with something difficult”. By now you realize that not everyone “copes” in the same way and some of your team members need your help. First, understand that you and your team members have all experienced very radical change in the past 3 weeks. Every aspect of your and their lives has been disrupted. Second, as the leader, you can help people cope by bringing structure to remote working, clarity in the continuing purpose of the work, and candor about the direction of the organization. Remember, now is the time to over communicate.
ADAPT – Adapt means to “become adjusted to new conditions”. This is when productivity begins to return. Therefore, your role as the leader is to help your people get into the “Adapt” phase as quickly as possible. Video meetings, messaging, phone calls – these will all be unusual at first, but over time, you and everyone will become comfortable with these mechanisms (and there are many more). So what do you do? Prepare, practice, train, emphasize, establish new protocols and procedures. (Everyone will adapt at a different pace.)
INNOVATE – Exceptional leaders will use this experience as an opportunity to innovate and to take his/her organization to a new level. Just as ZOOM innovated the meeting experience, strong leaders and their teams will identify opportunities to respond to customers’ needs, to operate differently, to engage funders, to identify and communicate with prospects, etc. As a leader, you should expect innovation…not the status quo.
Remember, everyone handles change differently – including you. For these first few weeks it is better to err on the side of “sympathy” and to be intentional on moving your people from coping to innovating. This will test your “leadership chops,” but if you are successful, you will elevate your organization beyond what was imaginable only a few weeks ago!