Over the past couple of months, we’ve been in communication with Dr. Kenton Gregory, a Gates Fellow for Intellectual Ventures Laboratory and Professor at OHSU, to get his guidance on how to advise leaders in healthcare and other industries as they make decisions about how to move through the madness that is COVID-19.

This week we want to share with you the one thing that Dr. Gregory said is critical to protect yourself and protect others. This simple act can transform our world as we reconnect with loving our neighbors and ourselves!

The most important single factor to allow safe return to work and somewhat less social distancing is . . . wait for it . . . FACEMASKS. Worn by all in all social contacts.

This does not even require N 95. If both parties wear masks—even homemade (but not bandanas)—you protect each other.

I protect you and you protect me.
That is the message.
We care about each other
and we protect each other—that’s it.

The flip side: if you don’t wear a mask, you don’t care about me, you only care about yourself. This is amply demonstrated by broadcast news of some politicians.

None of us wants to wear a mask,
but it’s all about the golden rule.

It’s hard just to protect yourself. You need a special expensive mask, you have to know how to adjust it, take it off, and dispose of it without contaminating yourself, etc., which is hard. But it’s easy to protect someone else.

What could be better for society?

Selfishness, self-serving behavior, and narcissism are expensive and punished in this global pandemic and helping others is rewarded and appreciated. Linda, as a psychologist, you will see some meaning here for leadership success and will hopefully be helping leaders understand it—I just know the science.


Caring for one another is good for each and every one of us and is key to your success as a leader.


 

In the video below, Linda and Heather talk about the importance of protecting yourself and protecting others.