I've been tracking human responses to what the World Health Organization (WHO) just declared a pandemic for a few weeks. The ability to read in more than two languages has given me a front line seat to how communication is moving through networks.
Last week I published an article about how the riskiest ideas are the ones we don't recognize. In it, I link to many of the sources and resources I've been using and evaluating over the past ten-to-twelve years. As I've come to expect, many of these curators of economic, science, and communication information have intensified the usefulness of their material.
Yesterday, I sent my first email in months to the list of subscribers to share more helpful resources. I plan to continue to share helpful resources that touch on culture, mindset and tools. If this is your cup of espresso coffee, sign up here.
As I continue to scan feeds of several industries, I also plan to publish more regularly here and continue sharing what I find useful on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Given how close I am to the situation in several parts of the world—my elderly and young relatives are in Italy, I have a cousin in Japan, we have family in Milano and perhaps still in France, too, colleagues in Australia—I have front row seats to not just the news, but also the human undertones. Emotion, conversations to make sense of things, and what people are actually doing to help. Emilia-Romagna pulled together in front of the devastation caused by the earthquakes in 2012.
It's safe to say that the number of Italians living and working outside Italy is also quite large. I've seen messages from expats to their local governments in Sweden to act quickly, heard thoughts on UK public statements, and more.
What I'm doing
I usually bring the combination of all these things mostly just to the advantage of clients, often working in the background to help make what they do resonate more and better. Here are some ideas for companies and people who are saying important things and want people to believe them.
Whether you're part of the community of people who's continued to read over the years, or just found this site through search (still the lion share of my traffic) or someone else, I'll write here more often. I'll keep sticking to my areas of competence, and publish conversations with experts, if available. I'll distribute guides and more resources via the newsletter.
In addition to working for years in consultancies and companies that trained me in risk management, I've been trained in the principles of risk communication and applied them to crises: Both as corporate staff, and business adviser. You can search this site for more articles on crisis and communications, if useful.
I have many elderly neighbors who typically need extra help cutting the grass, raking the leaves, and occasionally with minor home repairs. As I do this and more now, I'm keeping social distance with all, especially the elderly. The couple across the street works in hospitals, they might need help.
My mother in Italy is home with her dog that just broke a hind leg and no home phone or internet connection because she was in the middle of changing providers. Doing that is normally problematic, now it's likely impossible, especially as more companies are starting to allow work from home. I'm unable to speak with her regularly as I don't want to deplete her mobile phone charges in case she does have an emergency.
I was due to fly over there at the end of May for her birthday in early June. I have the ticket already but no idea if it will be prudent for me to go, or allowed. It's a wait and see situation right now, mostly flying blind over here. I'm thinking of her and the people she might rely on, which is why every Christmas her neighbor gets a thank you holiday card and warm consideration when I'm over there.
There's been a lot of conversation online about Italy and people's reactions over the last several weeks. Admittedly, the bureaucracy and some of the Italian traits that are easy to use as examples of humans' dark side are a bit of a pain. But I also know how devastating it was for such a social and convivial culture to separate from each other physically. Growing up over there, I enjoyed the full benefit of human touch and the warmth of making relationships for the long haul.
In the last several days, as my heart has gone out for all the artists, cultural centers, and social services sectors that are truly hurting over there right now, I've witnessed amazing displays of unity, community support and outreach. It's good to reconnect with a sense of gratitude, and with our immediate communities. To look each other in the eye, even from a distance, and appreciate our common humanity.
As I said in my note to email subscribers that my response to stress and crisis is to learn more and to make me better, so I can face what comes at me. Maybe you're like me, maybe you're also feeling that there were some things that could work better in your work and life. I'll share more of what I know and learn.
I read somewhere that expert curators are coming back into fashion. I can't help it, I love to share the good work of others. This has hopefully made me a good manager to my staff and colleague to my peers. I know I can learn a lot from the experts in my orbit.
In the culture of “me,” we exist because of “us.” Maybe we can make a habit of being kinder to each other, more open to relationships, readier to collaborate and connect person to person. This is what I've missed the most in the more transaction-focused culture I'm in now.
“Right now, we're called to tap into resources where we haven't been making too many deposits in the last few years: Collective trust,” says the Italian minister of culture. It's possible to make dozens of these kinds of deposits in a day and be all the richer for it. Let's use time wisely.