I don’t think this week has gotten any easier, but at least I’m starting to adapt to the current state of what is going on and I probably won’t be surprised if it changes again in the next 24-48 hours.  I continue to be frustrated with the constant barrage of negativity that comes from our media and the fear that has gripped so many people.  I know this is a very serious situation, however I worry that balance between positive and negative has been tipped too far toward the latter.

Last week to kick off one of our executive team meetings we went around the table and everyone shared their “silver lining”, or positive experience, that had come out of the Coronavirus situation so far.  I was hesitant to initiate the exercise because of the gravity of what we were dealing with and what we were about to discuss.  It didn’t feel right to smile or laugh during a time of crisis but it turned out to be exactly what we needed.  I was inspired by what our team said.  There was the fact that interest rates had gone down while in the process of refinancing a house, family having a chance to reconnect with one another, additional time to complete a house project and the view that this was an opportunity to pull us out of our comfort zones and challenge us to do something extraordinary.  After going around the table the mood in the room had changed. We all felt more relaxed, our minds were clear and we were ready to solve problems with a balanced point of view.  It wasn't about ignoring the circumstances and pretending they didn’t exist, it was a way for us to open our minds to the idea that those circumstances were simply a part of a bigger picture that we all needed to see.

We say at Footers that if you look for the good in people, you’ll find it and if you look for the bad in people, then that is what you’ll find.  The same goes for our current situation.  We can seek out negativity, read about all the terrible things going on and get sucked into the headlines grabbing for our attention, OR we can challenge ourselves to balance that out by looking for the positive that is all around us.  We can do this by self-reflecting on the positive things that we experience each day, I try to write down at least three every night.  We can do this through our interactions with other people: I’ve had some great conversations asking people; “What is the best thing that happened to you today?”. I’ve been inspired by the resilience that people are showing in the face of adversity when I ask; “What have you learned so far during this time?”  And we can spread positivity by sharing stories about the millions of people that are helping one another.  Those that are bringing groceries to their elderly neighbors who are worried about going out in public, or the money being raised at a grass roots level for hospitality industry workers.  Even little snippets found here can remind us that there is good in the world, we just have to be willing to look for it.

*Each week I share a leadership message with our team and we are honored to share it with you via MIBE Tribe.  MIBE (the acronym for Make It Better Everyday) Tribe delivers education on heart leadership and intentional culture building for the hospitality industry.