The time of crisis is one that many do not expect and very few plan for. The crisis most people plan for is not usually the crisis that happens eventually. Have your plans ever been hit by the unexpected? Have you ever planned for the unexpected and the unexpected that you anticipated never happened but instead you experienced the unexpected that you never anticipated?
Sometimes it could be a sudden event or an ongoing event with continuous implications. It could affect one or more people. Crisis happens to individuals, families, businesses, communities, organisations, nations and even the world like we are experiencing at the moment. The coronavirus is a pandemic affecting the world in one way or the other.
Is there anything to learn or anything we should have learned to prepare us for this Crisis?
The time of crisis could be a time of intense pressure and it is important to know what to do and how to do it. There are different outcomes in a crisis because it largely depends on the information available to everyone in the crisis and the reaction of each one of them which shows in the actions taken. We have witnessed so far the different results which is usual of any crisis, the outcome is always different because the actions are different.
It is not a situation anyone would desire to be in but many find themselves in it. What are some of the things that we can learn in such times and how does it help prepare us?
I will like to share 10 things that we can learn in any Crisis such as this, so that such experiences are not wasted.
1. You are not in control
One common thing about humans is that they do not want to be told what to do. That is why everyone exercises their rights and do what they want to do and some go all out to defend the rights so that they can be in control of what they do and how they do it. Interestingly, in times of crisis, you may have discovered that many have been nicely advised, ‘forced’ –had no option or willingly agreed to do things that they would not have loved or agreed to do ordinarily as it may not be in line with their wish. There have been lockdown measures implemented around the world with restrictions to movement and activities.
Several changes that have affected lifestyle choices and the way we normally do things. If it were not for the crisis it would not be so. Many now have to babysit their children, home educate their children, follow a certain routine, adapt to a certain lifestyle, accept a certain dress code, accept reprioritisation of their priorities, basically to a large extent do as told. This shows that it is possible to change for the better, not only for our good but for the good of others if we want to even without being told. This is not an attempt to humiliate anyone but it is in the interest of the general public and even themselves as well.
We might need to let go sometimes for our good and the good of others but crisis helps us see why and probably reason differently such that even if we have the right which is a good thing, we might think of not only our interest but also that of others and give it up for a greater good.
2. Opportunities are created
Crisis has a way of destroying one thing and providing an opportunity for another to blossom. The crisis of one person, organisation or nation is the opportunity of another person, organisation or nation. Someone may lose their job and it makes room for another person to get employment. One organisation may have closed down as a result of the crisis and that creates an opportunity for another organisation, as we see more online stores flourishing during the lockdown while so many other stores are closed with no sales. It is good for one and not so good for another. It depends on what you see; you can choose to see the available opportunities and those that can be created or just focus on the problem.
There has been an increase in online businesses offering varying services around the world, and providing solutions during the time of crisis. People can communicate, work remotely, attend meetings, join collaborations, attend events, buy, sell and many more as a result of the solutions provided and supported by some organisations. This has led to increased interest in broadband providers including related services and equipment. The need for such has surged and that opportunity was created by a crisis which has also crippled another industry at the same time.
3. A good person can be deceived
In times of crisis like the current Covid-19 pandemic, there is usually so much information from varying sources with varying contents. You have the great task of choosing which one to accept or believe and depending on how and where you get information and probably how you make decisions you may be affected positively or negatively. Almost everybody has something to say, every media has something to broadcast.
There is so much out there that you may end up being confused at the least or make bad decisions. You may have found out that some are misleading and false but they are available to all. You may not know why this happens but at least it is important to recognise that many people that engage in the creation of misleading and false information have different motives which might be to cause harm or for selfish gain which unfortunately some of those that spread such information may not be aware of.
Many people believe some of the false information because they heard it from people they love or trust but unfortunately the people they love and trust never verified the information hence the false information is now accepted based on the persons sharing it and not the originality and truthfulness of its content. Crisis makes all kinds of information available but it is advisable to check before you make decisions to ensure that the information is from trusted sources with contents that are verifiable and true.
4. Some exploit, some help
Many people become vulnerable in times of crisis and unfortunately, some use this opportunity to exploit others because of their current circumstances while others try to help. Some want to make greedy gain which could further worsen the situation by causing more damage.
There are so many threats and attacks online as a result of the increased online activity which could be in the form of virus attack, fake goods and services, fake websites, scammers and so on taking advantage of the current crisis because people are desperate and are willing pay for what they need.
On the other hand, some are willing to help like some broadband companies providing extra allowances for loyal customers when they run out during the crisis and some providing free delivery of goods to their customers. Do yourself a favour and check before you commit, it may be an attempt to exploit your situation rather than help it. Be careful, do your research and ask the right questions.
5. The crisis of others may affect you
It is common knowledge that the coronavirus started from Wuhan in China at the end of 2019 hence it is called Covid-19. By January 2020 many cases were reported outside China and about three months afterwards it has gradually become a pandemic affecting so many countries around the world. There are now more deaths as a result of the coronavirus outside China than was reported in China. Is there a possibility that if there were more global efforts in China, the virus could have been contained with a lesser impact on the world and even China? Could more global involvement have helped in the response, reaction and treatment in other countries? It is over there many may have thought but it is now going around ravaging the world, it is not only over there; it is now everywhere.
The effect is not just in China but all around the world impacting the human race one way or the other which may eventually change so many things around the world. It is like the situation of fire in your neighbour house, if you help him you may have helped yourself too because if you don’t it may soon come closer to you. The same applies to individuals, families, communities, organisations or nations. Do what you can to help others, you are helping yourself and the world at large directly or indirectly. The time of crisis is the best time to help.
6. The by-product of the crisis could be an amazing feat
There are so many things that people, organisations or nations would like to do but they sometimes struggle to make some decisions because of one good reason or the other. It could be trying not to offend some people or struggling to reach an agreement or some personal preferences or trying to avoid a big or major change or seeking a convenient time or probably it could not just make it to the top priority.
It is so amazing how such things get done when there is a crisis. You may have found out that China built an emergency hospital in Wuhan in 10 days to treat patients with coronavirus. This medical facility is about 645,000-square-foot, made up of two floors, equipped with 1,000 beds, 30 intensive care units and several isolations wards. Crisis made us aware that such a feat is possible. A similar feat happened afterwards in London where the makeshift NHS Nightingale hospital was completed in 9 days with space for 4,000 beds also to treat coronavirus patients and this eventually became a model which was rolled out to other parts of the country.
You may be surprised by what you can achieve in crisis; it may be signal confirming the fact that crisis might be an opportunity to do what you have never done, it is not a time to give up, it is a time to be strong. It is a time to do what you have never done so that you can see the results you have never seen.
7. Prejudices and differences are ignored
It is common for some people to have their preferences and prejudices in the time of comfort but usually when there is a crisis and they require help they would be willing to accept help from anyone. The health workers and frontline workers all around the world provide such amazing service especially during this time serving everyone in need regardless of their differences. So also other professionals, organisations and the government do their best to serve everyone in need without discrimination.
There are so many service providers that have closed as a result of the pandemic which has forced so many to seek alternative options or accept the available options. Crisis makes people ignore prejudices and differences. People are willing to work together to fight this common threat to life. The effect of this is that enemies are willing to become friends so they can work together to achieve the common goal and preferences are ignored for the common good of all. Teams are formed from different backgrounds, and they work across different barriers to achieve a common goal. Crisis has shown that it is possible and it works why don’t we make it a way of life.
8. You have more potential
Crisis teaches us that we can do more than we think we can. No one will usually love to stretch themselves as many love the zone of comfort or easy life. One of the things crisis does is to force us out of comfort and that helps us to realise and utilise our potential. There have been so many dramatic changes in the last few months as many have been forced out of their comfort to do and learn things that they have never known or done things in a way they have never done.
Some have had to master the technology involved in online banking, online shopping, online meeting or remote working within a few hours. This could have been an area of struggle or disinterest which they might have willingly told themselves that ‘it is not for me’ but if the only way to get money in crisis is online, then you may have to learn it very fast. So many businesses have transformed the way they serve their customer with a few weeks by adapting to the times by providing services to people around the world with staff members located around the world. Crisis helped many to see that they can do more and that they have potentials that are yet to be used.
You may be amazed at what you can do in a crisis, it is only a pointer to the fact that you can do more if you are willing to and decide to go beyond the limits you or others may have set.
9. Crisis reveals your weakness
It is interesting to note that when everyone faces the same challenges each one may come of it differently or each one may have a different level of impact. This could be due to so many factors which vary from individual to individual but the truth is that the strong usually get the less impact while the weaker get the more impact. Strength may not necessarily be muscles but the level of preparedness which could be a function of the level of information, exposure and experiences which has prepared the individual for the different possible challenges in future. This helps the individual to react promptly and make informed decisions in time to reduce or avoid the crisis but for one that is not well equipped, time may be lost looking and searching for what to do which makes such individual vulnerable and being hard hit before a solution is found and a useful decision is made to avert the crisis.
Crisis reveals weakness and it is an opportunity to learn from such crisis and work on such weaknesses to avoid future repetition of the crisis. If you know what to do in a crisis and you do it on time you are likely to come out with little or no impact than for someone who has no idea of what to do. A bank may experience major data loss for instance, which could mean the end of the institution but the institution may be able to bounce back in a short time based on relevant preparation made for such a disaster which could be a recovery from a well-kept and maintained backup system. If they do not have a backup system, then the crisis will hit them hard and their weakness will be revealed.
Crisis can happen but your preparation can limit the impact. Crisis may have shown you your weakness, take it up as a challenge and brace up with adequate preparation for the future.
10. Do not forget the past
Those that remember the past may be better prepared. The past helps many prepare for the future. Every crisis, whether it is personal or corporate has clues in the past which if used wisely can either help avoid or minimise the impact of the current or future crisis.
The generation that ignores the past have lost a vital weapon and they will be hard hit by the crisis of the future.
Taiwan reacted quickly to the coronavirus and they had the least impact especially as they were very close to China where the virus started. They were ready and prepared and it paid off. They learnt from their past because 181 lives were lost to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003. They were among the worst-hit territories then but not now, they learnt from the past and saved the future. They are exporting their solution to help others around the world.
The generation of comfort and only comfort may have forgotten, or have not been schooled or ignored the past. They are likely to learn from the lessons of the past from future crisis.
In any area of life, the past can help you predict the future. In other words, the trends and patterns of the past can help you make decisions and predictions. It may not be always perfect but you stand in a better position to make an informed decision in times of crisis or times abundance.
The world has experienced so much including wars, pandemics, disasters and many other different forms of crisis, we can learn from the situations, actions and reactions and come out with a better approach on how to reduce the impact or avoid crisis in future.
The global pandemic we experience today has hit the world so hard, but if we had no information from the past and no preparation at all, it could have been worse. Scientist took off from their previous experiences of similar pandemics that is why they were able to inform the world and identify what was happening, give some guidance on how to protect people and treat those who have been affected.
The different national governments took off from their experiences of past crisis and put necessary legislation, structure and facilities in place based on the information they have received. If we have neglected the past, the effect and impact would have been far worse because by now we may not even have discovered any kind of protection or probably just trying all kinds of irrelevant things which could be like treating a headache with vaccines for measles. The hope for the future also depends on the great and immense work that has been done during this time and afterwards as it will help for a better preparation for the future and future generations in their preparation for related crisis.
If we learn from the past, we are better prepared for the future. If we are armed with the information (What similar things happened in the past, how they reacted, ways to improve it and make it available to the relevant groups of people and pass it on across generations) we are ready to face the future with reduced impact from such crisis.
Please feel free to share this post if you found it useful, and remember to get in touch as I would appreciate your comments and would like to hear from you.
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