Corona - Darona : Management lessons

In this post, we shall derive lessons for corporate management world by observing the current fight against CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19).


1. Health and Safety are of paramount importance: Most of the people in the responsible age, are taking precautionary measures for Coronavirus (COVID-19), because they feel their dependent family members should not suffer if something happens to them. On similar lines, in corporate sector too, employees should not stress themselves beyond allowable limits in the race to ace with the set speed. Please realize that our family members suffer a lot, if something happens to our own health. More than the salary we bring home, it is our health and safety that our family values most from us. The sense of precautions and urgency shown towards COVID-19 must be shown towards dealing with corporate politics, long work hours and distress. We must keep our family members in mind and pace our work in harmony, collaboration towards noble goals. We must have “live and let-live” attitude while dealing with corporate problems.

2. Don’t be panic- but be alert: Fight with Corona expects us not to be panic but be alert in taking precautionary measures. In corporate world too, each of us would be struggling with our own battles. We should not be panic about our work situations, however, we need to be alert in providing our best possible response to what ever situation we are entangled with with detachment. Things will continue even without us. Businesses propel around profits in most of the scenarios. If one door closes, another door will open for skilled, professional and hardworking employee.

3. Problem is the problem. Your problem can soon become my problem too: COVID-19 cases were first observed in China. Soon it got spread to Europe, South Asia and America. In corporate world too, the problems with other corporate sectors, domains or employees can soon become our own problems. Thus, we need to look the problem in holistic view.

4. We are interconnected. Respect for individual is the key: Coronavirus has kept the mankind in panic and made them in their checks. In countries, where entire lock-down was observed, the economy was down where most companies were compelled to come to rest. It only says, no one is great or superior. We are all interconnected and interdependent. Our needs are interconnected and interdependent. There is no body who is a king. If people observe self-quarantine, businesses must fall. Thus, it is better if corporate management realizes these facts and ensure respect for each individual in the company. Let the right role respond to the situation. We can always help each other if need be.

5. Learn from the competitors: While fighting with Corona, succeeding nations are learning the lessons from preceding nations that were impacted with Corona. On similar lines, Corporate must acknowledge the problem and learn what their competitors have done while addressing such problems in the past.

6. Invest more in prevention than in correction: India has enforced COVID-19 precautionary measures in telephonic calls (for the first 60 seconds). This has increased awareness about this problem across India with rapid speed. Indian people hear COVID-19 precautionary measures whenever one person makes telephonic calls to other person for the first 60 seconds mandatorily. India has taken stringent measures like closing the schools, movie theatres, malls and banned international travels as preventive measures. Thus, Corporates must invest their efforts in preventive measures (in increasing awareness about problem and solution) rather than burning their hands in corrective measures.

7. At the times of panic, effective and efficient communication forms the foundation: India’s Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi appealed to people of India in most convincing way where he urged people to stay at home as much as possible. On Corporate sectors, we come across unavoidable situations filled with panic, distress and loss. Senior executives should not further fuel the existing negativity with their anger, power or ill tricks towards their employees. Senior executives should see the situation in bigger circle and ensure effective and efficient communication towards their staff.

8. Created fear is more concerning than the actual problem: True.. actual problem may be less or can be addressed relatively easily. But the created fear about the problem weigh more concern to the people than the actual fear of COVID-19. On corporate sector too, the created/ perceived fear of losing a job or, not finding an alternate opportunity create more distress for employees rather than actual distress at hand. This impacts their ability to work in fullest of their potential.

9. People supported movement towards fighting the evil is much more powerful than achieving it by using force. Indian Prime Minister called for Janata Curfew on 22-Mar-20 where he urged people not to come outside of their homes on the Sunday of 22-Mar-20. He appealed to people of India to observe self declared quarantine in their respective houses. He used right choice of words that show his efficacy in connecting to people might and inspired them towards fighting this virus. It is classic example for true leadership notch. On similar lines, we do not need managers who just manage people on the floor. We need true leads who make you believe much bigger than your role and connect you towards higher, nobler and innovative initiatives. Just like India’s Prime Minister will forever be remembered for his efficient speech on this occasion, corporate employees will forever remember such leaders who made them cross their difficult situations for the rest of their lives. Please remember, logic may only take to the set expectations. However humane touch and care can take you inexplicable heights.




10. Inside every problem, there will be an opportunity waiting to be let out. This CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) problem is only unifying people across the globe on one stead beyond their country, religion and caste. Problems come to improve us. CORONAVIRUS is retarding people towards their older and time tested golden practices. The humanity (or corporate work-force on similar lines) will solve these problems for sure.