What do you do when the world stands still? Words of Wisdom for Heartfelt Leaders

Deb Boelkes

Question #2: What heartfelt "best-ever boss" words of wisdom do you have to share with leaders and aspiring leaders?  

Deb’s Answer:

• Let others know you love and care about them.


• Be forgiving.


• Be creative.


• Learn from the many lessons we are now being granted.

As the former Chairman and CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, once said, “Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.”

We may not like what’s happening, but as they say, it is what it is. We leaders must deal with it … to the best of our calm and courageous ability. Remember, your team is looking to you to be their role model, so be an especially good one. Especially now.

As heartfelt leaders, we must help our loved ones and team members come to terms with the fact that each and every one of us is now dealing with life and death situations and decisions, some of us on a daily basis, on a global scale. The world has never seen the likes of issues we now face, at least not from a speed and span-of-spread perspective.

We must understand, no matter how good we normally are at dealing with adversity and tough decisions, the current situation can be extremely stressful for everyone. Your loved ones and team members need to be reassured that you are there for them (perhaps albeit remotely), to support them in their time of need. Be sure they know you care about them. 

Certainly nothing is more important than our lives, our health, and our well-being. Same goes for that of our loved ones and team members.  These things must be our top priority right now.

Help those close to you to keep in mind, there are some things we can control, some things we can’t control. We must be realistic about and accepting of the things that are simply beyond our control.

Some of the things that are within our control, things that seemed so important to us just a month ago, back in the days when we had the luxury to take our good health for granted, may only be of secondary importance right now. They may no longer be important at all for the time being. We must each understand and appreciate the difference. If there is nothing one can do about a specific issue, let it go and focus on what you can do.

Certainly it can be especially hard for those of us in industries that are most severely impacted, like air travel, cruise lines, and a whole host of others. Staff in these businesses who are now out of work may be paralyzed by fear. For those in your charge who aren’t handling things well, help where you can and be forgiving.

If it’s at all possible to keep people employed, do it. Take advantage of the extremely low interest loans available right now, if necessary.

In my newly released book, Heartfelt Leadership, I tell the story of how IBM never laid anyone off during the great depression that occurred nearly a century ago. Instead, everyone shared together in taking reduced pay, but everyone kept their jobs. Senior leadership ensured everyone knew they were still members of the IBM family, no matter what was happening to the global economy. That’s what families do. Be sure your team members know they are valuable members of your business family.

On a macro level, there is a tremendous opportunity to do the things which may help save lives, if we find ways to adjust our operations. If we adapt and use our brain power in more flexible and creative ways, we may all come out stronger in the end, and perhaps more united and self-sufficient as a nation. Your organization could lead the way.

I love the story that came out recently about Louis Vuitton being among a number of companies that are shifting operations to repurpose their manufacturing lines to produce hand sanitizer instead of perfume during the coronavirus epidemic. They were quick to realize their perfume factories would likely be forced to close at some point (perfume is an expendable purchase in times like these and the shops where their products are sold have been forced closed by government mandate). Instead, they shifted operations to become a life saver for possibly millions of people.  

In similar fashion, the Atlanta-based Old Fourth Distillery announced they would give away their own home brewed hand sanitizer (made of aloe vera gel and 95% ethanol) to anyone who stopped by their shop.

What could your company do differently to make a big difference in new ways that could be vitally important? If you have ideas, now is the time to bring them to the attention of higher ups and other associates. No one, not even the CEO or your board of directors, has a lock on good ideas. Be confident and willing to bring your ideas forward. Your idea just might be one that will saves thousands of lives.

Capitalize on the tremendous opportunity we all have to be more strategic and collaborative in new, untried ways. If we can think outside the box and learn quickly from all of this, perhaps through public-private partnerships or partnerships with other firms–maybe even competitors, we have the potential to create and implement much needed solutions, magnificent solutions, sooner rather than later, or now rather than never. Do it.

Finally, we must also seek to fully understand what has happened, what is happening now, and what else could happen going forward. With proper understanding, we must then do whatever it takes to prevent such a global disaster from happening in the future.

On a micro level, much may be beyond our individual control, aside from wisely managing our own day-to-day activities. Be smart, think, and don’t complain. Thankfully, many of us are able to work remotely. Take advantage of what can be done more efficiently where you are, now that some of the minutia can be cleared from your plate.

Encourage your family and team members to engage their brains to come up with novel approaches to better serve your local clients, friends and family members. Do what you can to be a problem solver for your community. There’s never been a more important time to do so.

Be grateful that you can now take the opportunity to eat dinner at home with your immediate family members for a change. Be glad you don’t have to drive the kids to soccer or basketball practice during the dinner hour. Instead, if you live in an area where allowed, go outside and appreciate nature. 

While we must be mindful to maintain social distance, perhaps you can sit outside on the front porch and wave to neighbors passing by. We might take walks, keep smiling, share stories, and laugh.

Find ways to stay in touch with loved ones who may be far away, or who may be lonely and alone. Let them know you love them, too. You might literally save the life of an especially frightened or depressed person by doing so.

Who knows what the days, weeks or months ahead hold in store for us, but let’s be sure to appreciate all that we do have, right now, today. Perhaps this pandemic will become a catalyst for each of us to learn to more fully appreciate the simple, yet oh-so-important things in life.  Relationships matter.

Of course, heartfelt leaders already know that.

Sending all my love, best wishes, and virtual hugs your way.