COVID-19: CEO Support
Greetings! As leadership strategists and coaches, we have had lots of calls from friends and colleagues over the last few weeks. CEO's are sharing with us that as they see spring events being cancelled and revenues evaporating, they are very concerned about the long-term health of their organizations. The pressure and loneliness for nonprofit CEO's is further compounded because many have board chairs who are in for- profit companies (their day jobs) who are putting their energies into maintaining the health of their companies (and their families) first and may not have time or the skills to shoulder the worries of their volunteer roles.
What to do for yourself as a CEO? What to do for your teams?
Reach Out to Trusted Partners and Leaders. Chris and I are offering FREE 45 minute "thought sessions". We are here to listen to your worries and to be thought partners helping you position what's next. We are only a call, email, or text away…contact us!
Practice Self Care. Even with social distancing, it is ok to go for a walk outside. Plan healthy meals. If you don't normally home office, it can feel like you are now "on" 24 hours. Try to keep a regular schedule with focused work that matches your office hours and email and texts in the normal off hours schedule you keep. If your gym is closed and that is both a social and health outlet, remember, there are great online yoga and mindfulness programs. Planet Fitness is offering FREE online classes, even to nonmembers.
Spend Time Learning or Doing Something New. There are great classes online from American's best universities. Engage your mind. Take a look at Coursera and edX.
If you are practicing social distancing and your offices are closed, here are some ideas:
Have a daily check in call first thing in the morning. Talk about what you are working on for the day, what happened yesterday, changes or adjustments to plans. Keep the team cohesive and focused. Remember, everyone does not have the same support system at home so this daily check in call, especially if you are using Zoom, could be the only time people are "seen" by others.
Encourage people who feel stressed to schedule one on one time with you for calls and to use your EAP support system.
Evaluate your plans and use this expanded "quiet time" to work on special initiatives:
Reviewing your Stewardship Program
Reviewing Opportunities for Strategic Alliances or Strategic Initiatives (Need ideas? Listen to our podcast!)
Creating/Strengthening/Updating Your Board Onboarding Process and Manual (Need ideas? Listen to our podcast)
Reviewing your Board Recruitment Strategy
Reviewing and Revising Your HR Manual (How up to date is your work from home policy?)
Reviewing and Updating Your Staff Position Descriptions
Reviewing your Succession Planning