In Crisis, The Best Strategy Is To Be Calm

We have a health crisis on our hands, COVID19.

It’s a shared opportunity provider — regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic class, and geographic region. It’s result has been anxiety, fear, hysteria, panic, and the dissemination of false news.

With the viral spread happening at an exponential rate, numerous deaths recorded, and our online & offline environments flooded with panic, it seems ridiculous to ‘be calm’.

However, that’s actually what has been proven to be more effective for smart decision-making and improving health odds during crises.

I say this to you as someone who has practiced both types of crisis response — being calm versus ‘losing my head’.

I can testify that the former outweighs the latter.

When we choose to be calm in a crisis, we end up thinking more clearly, coming up with creative solutions, and moving ourselves & others into productive action.

When we choose to ‘lose our head’, we end up with cloudy judgment, find it difficult to come up with creative solutions, and fail to take appropriate action due to paralytic fear.

We cannot afford paralytic fear. We need enough clear-headedness and calm to:

1. Implement the health advisory provided to us by our health leaders (frequent hand washing, frequent hand sanitizer use, no hand shaking, social distancing, and more).

2. Take appropriate decisions across our businesses, companies, and organizations (implement work from home policies where possible, move meetings/trainings/conferences online, close international borders, volunteer time and services to help with accurate communication to the general public about the COVID19 spread and prevention mechanisms, and more).

While it might appear impossible to ‘be calm’ in the face of the COVID19 crisis, it’s worth noting that calmness will likely be our saving grace.

How can you stay calm?

Take deep breaths. Meditate. Pray. Filter the social media accounts you follow (focus on those by reputable health bodies like WHO and CDC). Stay in touch with your loved ones. Listen to calming music.

“In crisis, the best strategy is to be calm.”

C’est la vie.

I wish you and your loved ones good health, safety, and calm.