From the President
Dear EO Melbourne,
For all our Members, the last month has been difficult, unsettling, destabilising and heartbreaking. However, I am also cognizant that it is during times of crisis that great leaders – and feats of great leadership – emerge.
It is during times like these that people turn to us as leaders, and one message has been clear in my conversations with leaders whom I deeply respect and admire: Leadership requires us to make fast (and well-informed) decisions, leadership requires us to be present, leadership requires us to increase our pace of communication, and leadership requires us to accept that we make decisions knowing what we know at the time and with the resources that we have available to us.
Further to the above, Warren Rustand’s summarises in his recent message to EOers globally the 3 key things that leaders must do during times of crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlFhLat4kW0
Establish our priorities and have clarity of vision
Act on the things we can control
Be calm, rational, and the voice of reason
It has been incredibly uplifting for me to see Members pick up the phone and reach out to other Members even if to check-in. Sometimes, you can give a lot by giving a little, and your phone call can make all the difference for another person. As we navigate the uncertainty that lies ahead, I encourage everyone to lean on each other because what I know with certainty is that we do not have to experience this alone and that we are better and stronger together.
I include Melbourne-specific updates below and updates from Regional and Global. Please be mindful that our landscape changes every 24 hours, and so we will be increasing our pace of communication so that Members are kept informed. Please keep an eye on our Facebook group, WhatsApp group and your inbox for updates.
Melbourne updates
Events cancelled until the end of Mar to date, and we will inform Members of further cancellations and changes. Given recent announcements, further communication pieces will be sent outlining our plan for the next 3 months.
COVID-19-related learning events being scheduled (with 2 runs over the last 2 weeks) to help Members plan and prepare
Coordination with Chapters globally regarding access to virtual learning events, and sharing of virtual learning events; particularly concerning COVID-19-related learning
Creation of “EO Melbourne - Together” WhatsApp group for fast dissemination of information amongst Melbourne EOers - https://chat.whatsapp.com/BrXX5w9pabPFzzL3iaBAD0
An APAC-specific central repository of information for COVID-10-19 with links to EO Members sharing their experiences around the world, webinars, virtual learning, medical news, ideas and stories
Forum support, move to virtual and we encourage each Member to self-determine if they will attend Forum over the coming 4 weeks without penalty. Check Forum Best Practices Guide Link here.
The Board will convene this week to discuss further strategies, resources and support that we will provide for Members, with communication pieces sent shortly after
Regional and Global updates
Paid Zoom accounts for Chapters running learning events
APAC Business Conference will be held virtually and will be free of charge
Contents that are focused on how to survive 2020 physically, mentally and financially
Global virtual tours planned for speakers from the cancelled Global Leadership Conference
Pending updates on financial leniency on renewals and re-qualification
All APAC meetings to go virtual
Finally, as always, I invite you to join me in reflecting on how we can make this year ”Our Best Year Yet!” With the recent crisis, the lens at which I look at this statement has changed, and as I close off this month’s update, I consider that it is during times of crisis that great leaders emerge. I hope that this provides an opportunity for us to transform into great leaders.
With Warmth and Gratitude,
Kym Huynh
President 2019/2020