photo by Lara Herscovitch
Given how many times I have encouraged others to use “I statements,” I’ll start with one as well.
I am a geek. I cannot pretend otherwise. I may (try to) hide it for a while, but then I relapse.
I made a living for years looking at disparate sorts geologic data and finding ways to make sense of them. I did research in several areas that could affect human health: nuclear waste isolation, radon in soils, and atmospheric transport of pollution. Our lab found novel ways to advance a technical understanding of how to mitigate the risks. The science was stimulating (at least to this geek) and I like to think the learning from it was useful to policy or practice.
I also served on the public information committee of a professional society. From that experience it became clear how easy it is for research and science geeks like me to misunderstand non-geeks, and also to be misunderstood. I learned, over time, how to improve that communication (if you buy me a lager, I can tell some colorful stories of focus groups where I was behind the one-way glass).
So call it habit or my nature – if data are put in front of me, I can’t help trying to figure out how the pieces fit together.
Like most of us, I’ve been following the increasingly detailed descriptions of the spread of COVID-19. Like it or not, it has activated my inner geek – and my profound concern. The flood of information feels both scary and overwhelming. Everyone I talk with seems to feel challenged in one way or another by it all.
In every cohort of the Community Leadership Program (CLP) we’ve used Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky’s distinction between technical problems and adaptive challenges as a perspective on the work of leadership. Over the last few days I’ve been thinking about how that frame may be helpful in finding a way forward. I am moved to share these thoughts emerging from my experience as a geek, our shared experience of CLP, and my concern and affection for you individually and collectively.
The first perspective of The Technical Problem is the epidemiological aspect of the threat. Individually (one person, one city, one state or even one country), we can’t stop the spread of the virus. Collectively, however, we can slow its spread. This is where the term “flattening the curve” has emerged and has come into widespread usage in the last few days. I recommend this article about it.
Why put so much effort into slowing what may be inevitable?
Because the difference in impact between rapid and slow spread is huge – overwhelming versus manageable (although certainly the efforts to slow the spread have large personal and economic costs). The slower the spread, the less strain there will be on health care and food supply; fewer people will die and recovery will happen faster.
I urge you – especially if you lead an organization or can control or influence the social distancing of any group of people – to read Tomas Pueyo’s “Why You Must Act Now.” As the title suggests, it makes an extensive and compelling case for immediate action.
(For all the other geeks, here is a March 13 update on the technical aspects of the spread of COVID-19 and a linked series of articles in The Atlantic on the practical epidemiology of mitigating the risks to individuals and communities.)
The second perspective of The Adaptive Challenge is the nature of how we as individuals, organizations and community interact and react. How will we respond to the challenge of changing our awareness and actions in order to thrive? How do we connect and grow as a community when we need to increase our social distance? How will we meet basic needs in a time of great but unknown economic disruption?
Lessons from CLP that feel particularly relevant today include:
- We are all in it together – each person’s actions affect the larger community. Having a sense that one can have little or no impact can be an excuse – conscious or unconscious – for not taking action. Understanding that one can make a difference is motivating.
- Our self-interest and community-interest are linked – “flattening the curve” benefits everyone.
- We have an opportunity to be explicit about what we ask of each other and how we hold ourselves accountable.
- When off balance, take time to Pause and Recover (or Discover).
- The reverse side of the “I” card is: “I have a role to play in creating spaces/communities that work.” Having a sense that one can have little or no impact can be an excuse – conscious or unconscious – for not taking action. Understanding that one can make a difference is a motivator (yes, I’m repeating myself – thank you for paying attention).
There is also a third perspective – staying grounded and true to ourselves as the familiar world turns upside down.
My daughter Lisa, who is definitely NOT a geek, speaks to this perspective more eloquently than I. She is an activist, educator, skilled facilitator and leader and I love her dearly. She has just set up a web site on Staying Grounded, Connected and In Community During COVID-19, to help us navigate the related disruptions and challenges.
I’ll close with a couple of activities she recently shared with her network that take only a few minutes and may help you stay grounded and connected:
Opening your day – When you wake up, before you connect online, face the east and greet the sun. Use whatever language and practices your heritage and tradition has around greeting a new day or try the following:
Facing the sun (or where it will rise), stand or sit with feet shoulder-width apart. Take a deep breath as you raise your arms over your head; slowly exhale, lowering your arms to your heart or sides. Do this a few times until you feel your body – air, blood, muscles – wake up. Offer a prayer or statement of gratitude for the light and heat of the sun, for the predictability and constancy of its presence, and the life it sustains. Just be for a minute; remember that this same sun shone its light on all your ancestors, every one of them. Breathe in light and warmth, end with a simple bow to the sun.
Activity – Call, text, or e-mail 3 people (perhaps some CLP’ers) you haven’t seen a while. Tell them something you appreciate about them. The act of affirming others is good for us, builds up others in a hard time, and reminds all of us that our networks are larger than they sometimes feel. (It is one way we can help each other Pause and Recover.)
I look forward to working together with you to support our community as we confront these challenges.
With gratitude for your presence and best wishes for your good health,
Bill
Learn more about Bill and the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
To reach Bill directly: BillG@GrausteinOffice.net
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In case the links in the text don’t work for you, here are links that you can copy and paste into your browser:
- Staying Grounded, Connected and In Community during COVID-19, from Lisa Graustein: https://sites.google.com/view/lisagraustein/home
And next, the articles; I suggest reading them in the following order – the first gives the frame and the others add more specific detail.
- “Flattening the Coronavirus Curve” by Siobhan Roberts, in The New York Times March 13: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/science/coronavirus-curve-mitigation-infection.html
- “Worst-Case Estimates for U.S. Coronavirus Deaths” by Sheri Fink, in The New York Times March 13. It explains how immediate actions can greatly reduce the mortality: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/us/coronavirus-deaths-estimate.html
- “Coronavirus: Why you must act now,” by Tomas Pueyo in Medium, updated March 13. It describes in detail the effect of interventions other countries and identifies the types of things you may be able to implement: https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca
- “Cancel Everything” by Yascha Mounk in The Atlantic, March 10. A practical epidemiology of mitigating the risks to individuals and communities in a linked series of articles in the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-cancel-everything/607675/
Thank you, Bill. I too have been thinking about the leadership responsibility during these times – both in how we lead and how we care for our selves. This post is much needed and much appreciated.
Thank you, a great read.
Thank you, Bill, for continuing to challenge us to stretch our minds and sensibilities.
Nice – thank you Bill. I have been thinking about my fellow CLP people (as well as other related circles) and love Lisa’s advice. Will take a minute to reach out to some of them. Thanks for the inspiration, there is comfort in hearing from you!
Perspective and shared perspectives do help, and are gratefully appreciated, also hopefully shared beyond CLP. … Be well in mind, body and spirit dear Bill and full community.
Thanks for this Bill. Covid 19 presents us with a great opportunity to create a new normal where maybe, just maybe the science geeks like you gain more credibility.
Bob