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  "note": "A lot of people, myself included, are getting their first experience at remote leadership. But I keep thinking that this isn't just remote leading, this is also leading through a global pandemic, and an economic crisis, with society locked down and an incredible amount of change and stress in everyones lives.\n\n> The last lesson comes back to the first: you are not leading a remote team. You are leading a team that is scared, stressed, angry, frustrated, worried, and worse. You are leading parents who desperately need a break from their kids and can’t get it, people who rightly fear for their own lives, people in the throes of trauma and grief. Your first job is to make sure they have everything they need to be healthy and safe; only if that’s achieved can you turn to anything else. And when you do, you better be as clear as possible about what they should focus on, and why, because no one has tolerance for even the slightest bullshit right now. You are going to have to listen fiercely, speak openly, make decisions even when no good options present themselves, and admit that you just don’t know what’s coming. You are going to have to stay calm and present even as the fire rages.\n\nThis is all so very true. I was on the phone with a colleague the other day and they were sharing a story with me and commented that their spouse had had to figure this out because they were unemployed. I felt terrible that I didn’t say anything at the time, and just stop the conversation. So I sent a note afterward. I can’t fix their situation, but I can recognize and acknowledge it, and be human with them. I think we all need to listen to the notes behind the things that are happening directly in front of us during these challenging times.",
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