And just like that…..

Engulfed in a sea of fear, concern, coupled with grief and a looming sense of chaos; is where the COVID-19 virus picked me up and left me standing.  Rising numbers of infections, jobs loss, shelter-in-place orders, health and safety concerns for loved ones is certainly enough to send the best leaders and change strategists into a tailspin.

And just like that, I woke up to a sunny day.  The warmth from the Spring sun gave me a wonderful feeling of confidence, trust and resilience.  My focus shifted to dirty windows from the winter’s cold, piles of blown leaves collecting against the door, tulips and hyacinths blooming in landscapes… and just like that, I interrupted the narrative.

Join me beginning Monday for a virtual five-part series from my book, “Interrupt! Finding Your Voice Amid Adversity.”  I’ll share five values that will enhance both your personal and professional life to help regain your voice during the most troubling times.  The Interrupt!© process includes:

• Knowing Your Roots – Think about time when you were growing up.  What were the important values that served as guideposts?  How can those same values help you now?
• Confidence – Remember “never let them see you sweat” advertisements?  As leaders we do sweat – but we get past it with solid processes, strong communication and transition plans, and collaboration.
• Likeability – Do we invest too much time in being liked versus being respected.
• Forgiveness – While difficult to do, we realize that holding on to negative energy gets in the way of progress and personal growth.
• Trust and Resilience – Simple, but not easy to trust others.  However, in times like these, it is paramount to collaborate with experienced practitioners.  Don’t be afraid to reach across generational lines.  It will only lead to a time reduction in the change trajectory and a quicker bounce back.