When history looks back on the year 2020, one word may emerge above all others. No, not pandemic or Covid-19. I believe the word will be “unprecedented.” In so many ways, our world has never walked this rough road before. Yes, we have had other pandemics and disasters. But nothing compares to the global reach of the coronavirus impact on health, lifestyles, the economy, and our own personal mindset.

Things we thought we couldn’t live without become much less important in light of today’s crisis. Things we never thought were critical…like masks and hand sanitizer…rocket to the top of our lists. And we even begin to do the irrational…like buy and hoard rolls of toilet paper, as if it had some mystical power to ward off the virus.

Jobs are lost. Lives are put in jeopardy. Heroes in the health and emergency services step up and work tirelessly. And “stars” are made out of the ones who give daily reports and updates on the status of the virus, its impact, deaths, and other pertinent information.

Unprecedented. And unsettling.

How do you lead others when fear of the unknown abounds? My longtime friend Robert McFarland speaks to leaders of ministries and businesses through his Transformational Impact organization. Robert’s years with National Religious Broadcasters and several fundraising and leadership organizations have given him great insight in the area of organizational leadership.

He recently wrote of helping your team combat the fear of the unknown like we are experiencing today. Many are wondering about their own personal safety and that of their family. They are questioning in their mind if they will have a job next week or next month. Lots of questions, few solid answers. Robert McFarland says as a leader,

“Even if you don’t have all the answers right now…you can provide some stability for your team and help them combat fear in this crisis.”

Some take-aways from Robert’s recent blog:

Be the shepherd.
Your leadership is needed now more than ever. With all the uncertainty and fear swirling around them, your team is looking for comfort in the storm. They need you to be the shepherd for the team.

People can be a lot like sheep, especially when they are afraid. They are looking for reassurance. Your people may make decisions that are not normal because fear is taking its toll in their lives. Be patient; be understanding. You don’t have to lower your standards, but you do need to make allowances for people to process the change in their lives.

Communicate fully.
It’s important to communicate fully what you know with your team. Don’t keep them guessing…. The absence of clear information will create rumor mills. Don’t allow rumor mills to take over in your team or your organization. As you communicate with your team, remember why you communicate in the first place: the purpose of communication is not just to transmit information, it is to develop relationships

Keep your focus.
Be real with your team. Explain to your team that you are focused on shepherding them, but that you are also focused on shepherding the organization. Your team needs to be reminded that your first loyalty is to the organization and all its stakeholders…. Remind your team that you are leading the organization now in such a way as to secure the future of your organization. By focusing on the needs of all your stakeholders, you will be more prepared to shepherd your organization through the crisis.

You can access the full blog and other information from Robert McFarland by clicking HERE.

I like Robert’s final thoughts for leaders in these unprecedented days:

“As you provide stability for your organization, be aware that fear will take its toll not only on your team, but it can take its toll on you, too. You have to combat the fear in your own life before you can help your team combat their fear. But remember that courage is merely acting in spite of fear. So be courageous as you provide stability in this crisis, so that your team will have the courage to move forward, too.”

Your work, your ministry, and your team are needed now more now than ever before. And the opportunity for presenting the Gospel with today’s powerful media platforms is also unprecedented. Yet the need is as old as time. Jesus saw the need and expressed it this way:

….I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.

John 4:35 NLT

Let’s lead our teams into the fields and be part of God’s harvest team. Not with fear…but with deep faith.