Can you believe we’ve been doing this for 4 whole weeks?
Can you believe it’s only been 4 weeks?
Everything about my routine, habits, and work looks completely different than it did at the beginning of March. You probably feel the same. And if you’re used to communicating to an “audience,” I think it’s helpful to examine how that audience has changed. On March 1, maybe you regularly communicated with a small group of customers, your coworkers, and a broad audience of prospects.
But 4 weeks later, who is your audience? Who needs to hear what you have to say? Who’s listening?
For me, the people I want to talk to has both narrowed and expanded.
Our Audiences Have Narrowed
It has narrowed because my primary and constant concerns are about the people inside my house (and they’re ALL ALWAYS INSIDE MY HOUSE). My #1 job every day is making sure my young kids feel safe and happy, and that my husband is supported and safe.
For most people, the safety and emotional well-being of their immediate family and close friends has become paramount in ways we couldn’t have imagined before. I appreciated the message Fatherly parenting editor Patrick Coleman sent his readers last weekend, echoing this theme: “You have one job now”. This trend applies even if you don’t have kids. Maybe you’re more fully focused on keeping your parents safe, or checking in on your friends, or keeping yourself above water. Our worlds have shrunk and simplified.
Our Audiences Have Expanded
But at the same time, the world of people I want to talk to has expanded. I’m an extrovert, but I think everyone can relate to the ache for connection. I want to check in with everyone — other small business owners, people I’ve worked with in the past, friends I haven’t talked to in ages, people whose work and family life look like mine, and people whose work and family life look nothing like mine. I’m hungry for everyone’s experiences and perspectives, their routines and coping mechanisms, and what they think is coming next.
Who Are We Listening To?
I’m listening closely, too. I’ve found inspiring leadership in unexpected places:
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I don’t usually watch royal culture very closely, but I was rapt watching the Queen’s remarks. She was calm, clear, wise, and parental. Exactly the kind of leader the world needs now.
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Authenticity feels more important than ever. If someone is ignoring our harsh shared reality, or pushing for “business as usual,” it feels like a violation of a new global social contract. But if someone is being honest, raw, and reflective, I see a kindred spirit. I have especially appreciated the reflections from Doug Kessler and the team at Velocity Partners in their WFH (Worrying from Home) series. One simple takeaway: “Kindness has always been the antidote to divisiveness. Today, every opportunity to choose kindness is too important to squander.”
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I have found solace in Katie Couric’s morning newsletter, with its features like a fiction series about life in quarantine (love this idea) and tips from “Bring Your Human to Work” author Erica Keswin about how screens are actually bringing people together.
For thought leaders, managers, and business owners, as you think about the state of your world, it’s important to ask: Who’s listening to you? Who needs to hear from you? Who is looking for guidance, or connection, or empathy? Your audience of eager listeners has likely narrowed (your direct reports are definitely listening) and expanded (your broader network of colleagues and friends also have their ears perked up). We’re all looking for guidance and a path forward.
That doesn’t mean you always have to know what to say. If you don’t have much to say, or you aren’t feeling like your normal, confident self, that’s okay.
What’s important is realizing that all of our attention has shifted. With frayed nerves and fuzzy brains, we’re all watching each other for signals, for connection, and for hope. Who’s listening to you? And what message do you want to give them?
