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How to Lead During a Pandemic Sensible advice during a chaotic time. By
ROMMEL ANACAN, The Relationship Difference
A note from the editor: This article was written on March 13. It was edited on March 27. The COVID-19 situation in Houston as it relates to housing providers and the health and safety of residents may have changed.
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f you are going to work in this COVID-19 fueled temporary new normal, I wanted to share some thoughts with you on how to effectively manage yourself, your team (if you're in a leadership position) and your residents during this crisis. Fear, for many people, is driving the bus right now. Fear of getting the virus. Fear of gathering together. Fear of losing income. Fear of not being able to pay rent. Fear of not being able to find childcare while their kids are home and they’re still going to work. Fear of going to the bathroom only to find there is no toilet paper. And yes, the fear of dying. So, if you're dealing with fear from your residents and/or from your team here are some tips:
Don't Minimize, Empathize This pandemic has affected many people in many different ways. For some, their lives haven’t changed much. They’re still going to work and no one they know has contracted the virus. While others may have worked from home for some time or are still working from home. Other, may have either been or still are on furlough or terminated completely. Therefore, we each one of us is dealing with this crisis in many different ways. I’m not a doctor, a lawyer nor a city official, but I can offer you guidance on how to manage people through a crisis. First, do not minimize your team’s fears. Avoid statements such as: • It's not that big of a deal. • You shouldn't feel afraid. www.haaonline.org
May 2020
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