We are tired. That is the hard truth. We are tired of staying socially distant. We are tired of wearing masks. We are tired of postponing our lives, and frankly we are tired of hearing about COVID. Death counts, infection counts, vaccines, ALL of it.
And yet we still have to accept and deal with it. Leaders have an obligation to acknowledge that the crisis continues and remind everyone diligence is needed. They need to talk about the impacts on individuals, the business, and the community at large. These are important things, so how can you be heard in the era of CCF (COVID Communication Fatigue)?
The holiday season is upon us, and most business and community gatherings are not being held this yer. The opportunities for warm and inspirational presentations are few, but most of us will still plan to share a message with our teams, and we simply cannot (should not) avoid the subject of COVID. Here are some thoughts about how you can include a COVID element in your year end communication that people might actually pay attention to:
- Keep a positive tone. You may need to deliver somber news, but avoid doom and gloom.
- Express thankfulness for those in your circles who have not experienced any serious health complications as a result of COVID, and acknowledge that not all are so lucky.
- Express genuine sympathy and support for those with less fortunate outcomes.
- Talk about how the impacts of COVID reach far beyond the sickness of an individual. Tell personal and relatable stories that demonstrate the ‘butterfly effect’ that a COVID infection has on individuals, families, the business, and entire communities.
- Acknowledge that the measures taken in the workplace are having a positive impact (assuming that is the case) and thank people for their diligence in following guidelines.
- Thank employees for going above and beyond in a time of need. Share stories of people working across areas of responsibility to support one another.
Close your message with a wish for a happy, safe and healthy holiday season, and a simple ‘ask’ that employees demonstrate the same diligence at home that they do in the workplace. Stay away from lists of ‘virtuous’ behavior such as “keep gatherings small” and “wear masks”. People hear this enough, and shaming is a failed strategy.
Not everyone will hear your message. Not everyone will heed the call to action. But that does not mean you should stop trying. If you provoke a few to think and act differently, you make progress.
Deilen Development 