Overcoming crises
Published Feb 27, 2022 12:05 am
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL
Dr. Jun Ynares
Many were elated by the statement made by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III last weekend.
According to the Secretary, the crisis is “over”, at least as far as the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is concerned.
The Secretary based his assessment on various statistics that were reported in the past few days. The figures were heartening: the growth rate of COVID-19 cases in the country was down to negative 81 percent; the average number of new cases during the same period out of every 100,000 individuals was down to seven; the hospital utilization rate has been at a mere 30 percent.
These signaled that the country is now at “low risk” classification.
The fear that there might be a major “Valentine’s Day spike,” or the sudden serious rise in new COVID-19 cases due to the rise in human movement did not seem to materialize. In fact, on Tuesday of last week – 10 days after the Valentine’s Day celebrations – the country logged what authorities said was the “lowest single day tally of new COVID-19 cases this year” at 1,019.
It looks like Secretary Duque is right: the crisis may be over.
For good, we hope.
If we really are at the end of the “crisis” fueled by COVID-19, then we can look back to the many lessons that this sad chapter in the history of humanity has taught us.
For one, the experience helped us understand what “crisis” really means.
“Crisis” does not necessarily mean “serious problems.” There is an element unique to a crisis situation. This is the feeling of “not being in control” and “not knowing exactly what to do.”
This is what happens when one finds himself in a “health crisis,” a “relationship crisis,” “financial crisis” or “reputation crisis.”
In all these instances, the person going through the crisis situation realizes that he not only has a ton of problems, but that he has lost control of his situation.
International leadership coach and fellow Antipoleño Archie Inlong added a dimension to “crisis.” He calls this the “quicksand test.” This describes a situation where a person or an organization becomes even more deeply mired in the problematic situation when they try to wiggle out of it or try solving the problem themselves.
“When the solution is still in our hands, that is not yet a ‘crisis’,” he explained.
He enumerates three elements of a crisis: chaos, confusion, and conflict. “Chaos” is experienced when the person or organization feels they are no longer controlling their direction and are no longer “in charge.” “Confusion” sets in when the person or organization can no longer discern what is right from wrong, truth from lies, good from bad, risky from safe. “Conflict” happens when relationships fall apart as a result of the chaos and confusion.
We emerged from crises by reversing the “chaos-confusion-conflict” pattern. We regain control by returning to “calm-clarity-collaboration.”
In the face of the pandemic, we regained control by allowing ourselves to “calm down” and “clarify” the courses of action available to us.
Calmly, we implemented and followed the safety protocols. We collaborated as we pursued the shared goal of beating the virus. That collaboration entailed sacrifices from many sectors, including those where people risked life and well-being to be able to save and serve others.
One of the most important beneficiaries of “collaboration” has been the anti-COVID-19 vaccination program. Here, national and local governments worked hand in hand to source and deliver the vaccines, to get people to avail of them, and to assuage the fear of some about the antidote to the deadly virus. Local governments and constituents collaborated in the implementation of quarantine measures and the distribution of aid and relief goods.
We could not recall a time when the level of collaboration has been as significant as when the nation was doing its best to overcome the crisis.
We share Secretary Duque’s perspective and position that the crisis is over. We have overcome.
This is not because the virus is gone – it is still here and will be around longer than we think.
There are still concerns regarding our economy that needs to be addressed. The reason why we say we have overcome the crisis is because we are no longer in chaos and we are no longer confused about the situation we were in.
We now know exactly what to do in this current situation. We are calm. We are in control.
Always, after a crisis, we become stronger. This one that we just overcame is no exception.
*For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to Block 6 Lot 10 Sta. Barbara 1 cor. Bradley St., Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.
Dr. Jun Ynares
Many were elated by the statement made by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III last weekend.
According to the Secretary, the crisis is “over”, at least as far as the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is concerned.
The Secretary based his assessment on various statistics that were reported in the past few days. The figures were heartening: the growth rate of COVID-19 cases in the country was down to negative 81 percent; the average number of new cases during the same period out of every 100,000 individuals was down to seven; the hospital utilization rate has been at a mere 30 percent.
These signaled that the country is now at “low risk” classification.
The fear that there might be a major “Valentine’s Day spike,” or the sudden serious rise in new COVID-19 cases due to the rise in human movement did not seem to materialize. In fact, on Tuesday of last week – 10 days after the Valentine’s Day celebrations – the country logged what authorities said was the “lowest single day tally of new COVID-19 cases this year” at 1,019.
It looks like Secretary Duque is right: the crisis may be over.
For good, we hope.
If we really are at the end of the “crisis” fueled by COVID-19, then we can look back to the many lessons that this sad chapter in the history of humanity has taught us.
For one, the experience helped us understand what “crisis” really means.
“Crisis” does not necessarily mean “serious problems.” There is an element unique to a crisis situation. This is the feeling of “not being in control” and “not knowing exactly what to do.”
This is what happens when one finds himself in a “health crisis,” a “relationship crisis,” “financial crisis” or “reputation crisis.”
In all these instances, the person going through the crisis situation realizes that he not only has a ton of problems, but that he has lost control of his situation.
International leadership coach and fellow Antipoleño Archie Inlong added a dimension to “crisis.” He calls this the “quicksand test.” This describes a situation where a person or an organization becomes even more deeply mired in the problematic situation when they try to wiggle out of it or try solving the problem themselves.
“When the solution is still in our hands, that is not yet a ‘crisis’,” he explained.
He enumerates three elements of a crisis: chaos, confusion, and conflict. “Chaos” is experienced when the person or organization feels they are no longer controlling their direction and are no longer “in charge.” “Confusion” sets in when the person or organization can no longer discern what is right from wrong, truth from lies, good from bad, risky from safe. “Conflict” happens when relationships fall apart as a result of the chaos and confusion.
We emerged from crises by reversing the “chaos-confusion-conflict” pattern. We regain control by returning to “calm-clarity-collaboration.”
In the face of the pandemic, we regained control by allowing ourselves to “calm down” and “clarify” the courses of action available to us.
Calmly, we implemented and followed the safety protocols. We collaborated as we pursued the shared goal of beating the virus. That collaboration entailed sacrifices from many sectors, including those where people risked life and well-being to be able to save and serve others.
One of the most important beneficiaries of “collaboration” has been the anti-COVID-19 vaccination program. Here, national and local governments worked hand in hand to source and deliver the vaccines, to get people to avail of them, and to assuage the fear of some about the antidote to the deadly virus. Local governments and constituents collaborated in the implementation of quarantine measures and the distribution of aid and relief goods.
We could not recall a time when the level of collaboration has been as significant as when the nation was doing its best to overcome the crisis.
We share Secretary Duque’s perspective and position that the crisis is over. We have overcome.
This is not because the virus is gone – it is still here and will be around longer than we think.
There are still concerns regarding our economy that needs to be addressed. The reason why we say we have overcome the crisis is because we are no longer in chaos and we are no longer confused about the situation we were in.
We now know exactly what to do in this current situation. We are calm. We are in control.
Always, after a crisis, we become stronger. This one that we just overcame is no exception.
*For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to Block 6 Lot 10 Sta. Barbara 1 cor. Bradley St., Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.