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O P I N I O N
In these uncharted times, we run the risk of only thinking about the immediate and not about where we are going to be three months, six months, or a year from now. Don’t forget the forest for the trees
F or the last several weeks we have been attempting to chart our course through some very rough seas for which there is limited prior experience and data to inform our decisions. As we are continually bombarded with ever increasing dire news, we run the risk of only thinking about the immediate and not where we are going to be three months, six months, or a year from now. In no way am I diminishing the harsh work-life environment in which we now operate, but we must also acknowledge that the world is not stopping, and, as the adage goes, this too shall pass.
Stephen Lucy
In early March, we decided to begin working remotely, closing our six offices in Texas well before stay-at-home orders. The decision was based on our preparedness to serve our clients and our focus on keeping our employees and their families safe and healthy. In the process, as CEO, I have reflected on numerous actions that are vital to keeping business running smoothly, among these: ❚ ❚ Be a leader. Many of the greatest leaders in history were molded through the challenges that they faced and overcame. There is no denying the challenges we have and are facing, but we must step into those challenges as we cannot abdicate our role in leading
our firms. The challenges are not going away, so unless you step aside and let someone else fill the void, be a leader and take responsibility. ❚ ❚ Communicate often. Our industry is not known for being populated by great communicators, but now is the time to actively engage with our staff. They are looking for information and for leadership to provide that information. Be it good or bad, they deserve to be informed as they depend on firm leadership just as much as firm leadership depends on them. The simple act of caring enough to engage and be empathetic to their issues speaks volumes about the value you place on your most
See STEPHEN LUCY, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER April 13, 2020, ISSUE 1340
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