You can never be great at work unless you're first exceptional at home.

I'm seeing, watching, hearing and reading a lot of spinning across companies right now to adjust and help the world. All of this is causing great change and it comes with confusion and a much higher level of ambiguity for employees. 

The best thing to do in these moments is to lean heavily into making sure you’re all helping each other at work. I can't stress this one simple core value enough. We all have to keep in mind that the pressures of home and work are colliding and you’re going to get comms from your company in one email filled with compassion and empathy that is completely disconnected from another email from the business asking for a level of intense work that comes off like it's business as usual. 

Don't take this personally. Understanding moments of uncertainty and stress brings out the best in people and leaders, but also the opposite.  

"How can I help?" has to be your core value in this time.

Leaders need to lead with...

“Is this possible?” 

“What can we stop doing so that we can do this instead?”

“How are you doing at home? Can you help right now?”

The best way to approach shifting work and teams quickly is to not add to a mountain of work, but to first eliminate mountains of work. 

Clarity is the greatest commodity right now. 

Be clear. Eliminate obstacles. And bring large groups of people together when and only when you can provide clarity. 

In the short term, in order to help everyone, you’ll probably have to let go of the way you’re currently organized and all align in small tactical teams to help drive the kind of work that helps all of your customers, but also doesn’t sacrifice your employees in doing so. 

You’ll have to slow some things down as you pick up all of your net new projects. 

If you’re a team member confused during this time, concentrate on your family first and your health and don't let the pressure of any individual, team or business function get in your head.

You can never be great at work unless you’re first exceptional at home. 

Nothing you achieve at work will ever matter if your family and your health suffers because of it.