Governments, central banks and the WHO will not defeat coronavirus alone; the private sector must play a key role.As companies respond to COVID-19, business leaders who back moral statements with practical action will stand out.Responsible firms will do everything possible to protect their people, meaning employees, customers and supply chains. Promoting health and safety is priority number one; next is trying to mitigate the financial impact, especially for staff on precarious contracts. Some businesses can redeploy their unique capabilities to meet society’s immediate needs. Think war-time effort: Luxury goods giant LVMH is producing hand sanitizer in its perfume factories, for use in French hospitals; Johnson & Johnson has donated a million surgical masks to Chinese health workers; IKEA is helping to kit-out hospitals in affected areas. These acts will not be forgotten by their recipients and will build good will among the wider public for a long time to come.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE. It is always tempting to ensure your investors get paid first. But long-sighted firms who balance this demand with providing real help to other groups will see immense benefits in the months and years ahead. The greatest business leaders will, by contrast, play a longer game to serve the societies which host them in this moment of great need, offering people security and stability as an antidote to panic and fear. Employees above all will expect this. This extraordinary and overwhelming crisis demands more of our top executives as they help lead our response. The best will advance the interests of others knowing that it makes us all better off.
Nobel prize winner “Wangari Maathai” said that, in the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called upon to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. For C-suites everywhere, that time is now.
The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly, with new updates flying in every minute. As the situation evolves, many small business owners are unsure of what steps to take to mitigate risk, protect employees and support customers.
“Keep your
employees and
your customers safe
by being as proactive
as possible about cleanliness.”
Owners should establish a remote work option,so that teams can stay in touch and keep working even if they aren’t in the same place.Reduce meetings and travel,Give employees flexibility With the country slowly moving toward total lockdown, you will need to be flexible with your employees’ time.Communicate transparently with your customers.
Everyone is facing this crisis together, so be transparent about what your business is going through.Customers can empathize with brands facing a crisis, as long as you communicate with them properly…
The time has come to change our model of heroism Our work becomes not just a job, but our most profound and authentic identity.
I’m convinced that you’re a hero too, or you’re about to turn into one.
