leading through corona - blog 6

BE KIND TO YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER



​I interspersed my written blogs with a video blog a few weeks ago, but in keeping with the theme of my site, I thought I would return to the written word for my sixth blog on this subject.

At Enham Trust, we have been able to keep the virus at bay to date. Our services, as outlined in my earlier blogs, were changed and adapted to run in a way to keep people as safe as possible, quite early on and to date we have been fortunate.

We have been reintroducing people to the workplace over the last couple of weeks, with our COVID-secure plans in place. But this is not a time for celebration or complacency and as I write this blog, I am listening to the Prime Minister make gathering in groups of more than six illegal.

It is not a surprise that we have slipped backwards and at Enham we have been planning for the dreaded second wave for a few weeks now.

The thing that stands out most to me when speaking to members of our teams across Enham is the way they have adapted, their commitment to the people we provide services for, and to each other.
The level of peer support has been humbling and one of our key messages throughout this pandemic has been that of self-care. It is vitally important at times of high demand and high stress, that as leaders, we encourage our staff to look after themselves and each other.

The responsibility for this messaging sits squarely with us. 

In leadership roles we are looked to, to provide direction and guidance. We are also responsible for ensuring our staff work in place of safety, both physically and mentally. This means that people we work alongside have to feel comfortable saying when they are struggling, when they need flexibility and when they are feeling overwhelmed. It is only when these conditions exist that we will get the best from people in such unpredictable circumstances. 

None of us truly know how this situation will play out. There are measures we can put in place to keep people a safe as possible, but what we can control is how treat each other.

One of my favourite phrases I have seen posted on social media recently is - 
At a time when you can be anything - be kind.

I think this sums up where my head is when considering how to get the various business activities of the charity moving again, as without being kind to myself and others, giving the space for rest which leads to renewed focus and creativity, our ultimate aims will not be achieved.

This is a time when people are under pressures they would have never considered. Some are finding the enduring period of home working enlightening, others are finding it a trial; and for those who have had to carry on and deliver services they were delivering pre-lockdown, they are fed-up of hearing about home working.
But at Enham one thing is common, all our teams are working flat-out to keep things running and minimise the impact that COVID-19 has on the charity and its beneficiaries.

I am hugely grateful for the work they do and stand ready to make another round of difficult decisions to keep everyone as safe as possible; if we continue down our path towards a second wave. 

Stay safe and well.
Heath