I think we can all agree that this has been quite a week. For many of us, what we knew as our normal has been up-ended. Those daily routines that once dictated our lives have been tossed aside and we’re all scrambling to figure out how to navigate in this new phase of normal. Many businesses and organizations now have the arduous task of figuring out what operations look like and how to weather this storm. I certainly don’t claim to have the answers, but I’d like to toss out a few things to keep in mind when working through your plan for keeping connected to your audiences in this season.

1. Be fully present in all the ways you can. This is a tough season of uncertainty and it doesn’t do your clients, customers, or donors any good if you ignore them and go into hiding. Your normal social media or scheduled email messaging content may need to change to reflect the current state of events but don’t stop posting and sending. Having those consistent messages helps people find stability. Instead of abandoning your platforms, show your audience what is happening, your team meeting remotely, or talk about the exciting plans you’re working on. What ways can you showcase your new normal?
2. Find extra ways to engage and connect. Maybe your nonprofit staff can’t run normal programs right now, but they can pick up the phone and call donors or participants to check in and build relationships. Your sales team may not be able to attend a networking event but they can host a virtual happy hour or coffee gathering for their clients or networking groups. Maybe your company has an expertise in an area that would be helpful right now like crisis communication, remote-team management, or online marketing or fundraising. Share that in a webinar! What ways can you or your team provide added connection or value in these days? 
3. Take every opportunity to model patience and grace. This is new for everyone. Working from home while your kids are home from school is a challenge. Stress levels are running high and that gives all of us a chance to show more kindness to our teams, our clients, our donors, and ourselves. Make the most of those moments. In what ways can you and your team commit to caring better for your circles? 
4. Find spaces for you and your team to take a break. President Franklin D. Rosevelt was known for holding nightly happy hours during World War II where no one was allowed to talk politics or war. He understood that in the midst of trying times, people still need an outlet so he provided that to his people daily. I’d say the same is true for us in these days. Make it a point in your plan to encourage your team to connect with each other to just check in and not always to talk about the current state of events or about work. How can you facilitate connection for your employees, who are used to seeing each other every day, to connect as people? 

No matter what business or industry you are in, know that you are not alone in navigating this new normal. Our team here at MSN (thanks to our amazing IT and Leadership Teams) has gone to a mostly-remote workforce from a fully on-site team over the last two weeks and it’s full of new challenges every day. If there are ways we can help your business in this time as offices have to shutter and teams scatter, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to assist and our team is ready to help. We’re all in this together and if we keep that mindset we’ll come out stronger on the other side of this time. 
PS: If you’re a small business who is having trouble communicating with your audiences online and need help with your social media, website, or Google MyBusiness page, email is at digital@msnconnect.com. We’re offering free support for 50 small businesses in this season as a way to give back. We’d love to help you!