Panic at the... Workplace!

There are many challenges to managing in the modern workplace, quirky personalities, generational divide, unspoken personal bias, regulatory requirments, and the list goes on and on and on.  This past week, a new challenge has surfaced or rather resurfaced ... Panic.  

Some would say that the cause of panic is the novel coronavirus and the illness now known as Covid-19.  However, this virus is not exactly a new issue.  This specific virus has been with us for a few weeks now, likely going undetected as the symptoms appear to be that of a common cold for most, generally healthy people.  But even beyond this specific outbreak of illness, potential pandemics are not a new phenomena.  We have had SARS, MERS, H1N1 and Ebola in recent decades, not to mention the regular, annual visits we get from our old nemesis, Influenza.  

The real cause of this panic is our insatiable need for information now, today and yesterday.  It drives misinformation, as our President, policial leaders and appointed experts trade seemingly conflicting sound bites.  It drives confusion, as TV commentators and pundits seek new and wordy ways to regurgitate the same small bits of fact through each new program and format.  Unfortunately, what gets lost in the rush to provide the next greatest tweet is the very real and very simple actions that we as employers can implement to help our teams and eliminate the panic.

First, stop relying on your social media feed for the facts.  Go to the experts directly: The World Health Organization https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirum-2019 or the Center for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/.  

Then use the good advice you likely learned from you mom, kindergarten teacher, pediatrician, or even the germ-a-phobe next door:  

• Avoid sick people and places where sick people are located.
  
• Stay home if you are feeling sick.
• Cover your mouth when you cough, use a tissue and throw it away when you are done.
• Wash your hands and clean items with disinfecting soap, spray or wipes.

Next, talk to you people as soon as you can. Talk to them face-to-face.  Share with your employees that you are aware of their concerns and you share them.  Provide them with the informaiton you collected from the WHO and the CDC.  Talk about the actions that they can take to stay healthy and encourage them to go home or even to their healthcare provider if they are feeling ill.  

Talk to them frequently, daily if need be to ensure that they see you as the calm, thoughtful leader that will help them get through this latest issue.  Talk to them in person, even if you already sent an email or a mass text.  Speak to the group even if you do not have new information to share.  Your presence and your willingness to engage them face-to-face will be more reassuring and will drive out the panic.