Rely on your training...

Thirty years ago I joined the Army.  As someone who catches on quickly there was a part of eighteen year old me that resented the redundancy of repetition of training exercises.  I wanted to move on to the next thing, absorb the next piece of knowledge, get qualified on the next weapon system and blow up the next target.  What I did not quite appreciate back then was that repetition leads to reflex and that reflexive response was incredibly important in high stress situations.  Redundancy in training was what allowed for fluid response in the face of danger.  Near constant repetition fostered the desired outcome, a successful mission again and again. 

That brings us to our next item: the mission; what is it?  It varies for all of us.  We are managers, service providers, engineers, architects, construction professionals, attorneys, insurance agents, financial experts and ninety days ago the mission was the protection, maintenance and advancement of value of communities.  Today, due to elements well beyond our control, the mission has changed.  Today the mission has existential implications where life and death can swing in the balance and that’s quite different from choosing what type of flooring goes in the lobby or if that resale packet was sent.

Today many managers and management companies are operating in crisis mode.  That crisis mode is ok assuming you’ve trained for it and trained well.  The well trained manager isn’t yanking every lever and pushing every button in an uncontrolled panic.  They are the soothing, level headed, calm toned individual providing what can answers can be provided.  They will keep themselves regularly informed with reliable sources of information and act in a manner that is consistent with stewardship and asset protection.  They will reach out to their leadership and counsel on recommendations and extents of authority.  They will attempt to provide the one thing they can in this time, something we all need upon occasion; assurance. They will rely on their training.  

In the United States we are so accustomed to the benefits of abundance and isolation that when a crisis does come we are unconditioned to manage this on an emotional level individually.  You should know that does not make you weak; it makes you normal.  As some of my colleagues have mentioned socializing, even if only electronically, can really be beneficial.  We are not a isolation seeking species, we are communal, which is precisely why a pandemic on a well interconnected planet is a major risk.  So in the interim find comfort where you can in company, yes even if only on Zoom, and look to the time in the future when we can all be reunited and think about the joy in the parties we’ll throw.  Until then… rely on your training. 

Todd El-Taher

Hann & Hann Construction Services