Learn Together And Lean On Each Other

Monday I cried in front of fifty people simply because we were together.

I pride myself on having a very balanced, full life. I have clear boundaries. I don’t work in the evening because that is reserved for family. I take time for myself.

And then the corona virus happened.

I have a congenital heart defect. I have been through two open heart surgeries, one just three years ago. I’ve technically had congestive heart failure my entire life.

I cannot get this virus.

I love what I do. I’m fortunate to be able to have a job that does not feel like work, allowing me to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

And then the corona virus happened.

Three weeks ago I was standing in front of the room with people seated at tables strategically placed six feet apart when the decision was made. I suspected everyone was going to be sent home so I’d been stalling, discussing the strange time we were in and how it was a moment we’d all remember. We said goodbye and left.

I walked out knowing my impact had just dwindled to zero. I was numb. It was all too surreal. On the Uber drive home, absolutely no words were spoken in either direction. It was like we knew breathing in the same space came with a risk. Talking would just increase that risk.

A week of wandering around from room to room. Cooking ridiculously decadent food, and reading headlines followed. And then somehow I went from zero to sixty.

Suddenly there were people who needed training now. I said yes to everything. Week two was a blur of activity. Setting up Zoom meetings. Creating slide decks. Hiring the 14 year old tech support guy who I share a house with. I couldn’t breathe, but it was a different couldn’t breathe than the prior week.

I experienced the most intense anxiety I’ve ever felt before hitting the Start Webinar button. While webinars were not new to me, this new environment with the threat of corona virus outside my door was new.

I cannot get this virus.

As the week released it’s hold on me I began to question whether offering training so quickly was necessary. Was it helpful? Was I being an exploitive pusher of my goods for my family’s monetary stability?

I concluded, with my husband’s wise prodding, that what I was providing people was helpful.

We needed each other.

And then I stood in my office/guest room/storage room/teenage son’s want to be bedroom looking at the faces of 50 people in their living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, and home offices. And I was overwhelmed.

We needed each other.

We needed each other more now than ever. And I cried.

Then comments began flowing into the chat. I was met with compassion and understanding. I was human and I was met with such beautiful depths of humanity.

And then I realized what we do as talent development professionals is important right now. We need each other.

I can’t give blood. I can’t work in the front lines of medical care. But I can help you keep your training and facilitation going. I can provide support that you need and in return receive your support.

My best answer is to provide a time when we can gather to talk about what’s working, what resources you’ve discovered, and what you need. I’ll share a few tips and then we will just discuss what we need to discuss. I’m calling it Let’s Learn Together (as we lean on each other).

Our first FREE gathering on ZOOM is this Friday, April 3rd at 2:00PM.

You can register here for a reminder and to add it to your calendar. I hope you will join me. It won’t be perfect, but it will be real.

We can get through this together.