GES 2020 COVID-19 Strategies for getting ahead of the pandemic crisis Exhibit 1 of 1 Exhibit Business leaders should consider these indicators in the coming weeks. Depth of disruption Length of disruption Shape of recovery How deep are the How long could the What shape could demand reductions? disruption last? recovery take? Finally, you look at the recovery. The question of Mihir Mysore: Definitely. So far, we are seeing what shape the recovery will take is still up in the companies put in place project-management offices air, but there are lessons we can already glean. We (PMOs) to oversee the biggest operational issues. know that some countries are finding ways to get How do I protect my people? How do I stabilize healthy populations back to economic activity. We my supply chain? How do I make sure to physically also know there could be a virus resurgence in the protect any customers who may come onto my fall, and the level of preparedness by public-health premises or, in a B2B situation, be transparent with systems for that resurgence could provide a clue to my customers about our situation? A crisis nerve the recovery’s shape. Thinking about the recovery center is not an operational PMO. By definition, it will allow you to begin detailed planning now rather needs to include a plan-ahead team—plan-ahead than waiting until it’s clear that the epidemic has teams, actually—that do two very important things. passed and economic activity has restarted. At that point, you may be behind your competitors. The first is to discover the truth about what lies ahead and then determine the portfolio of strategic Sean Brown: How can leaders get a handle on actions that respond to whatever truth the team these indicators? At last year’s Global Business has uncovered. Most of the strategic actions will be Leaders Forum, you did a presentation on business trigger-based, meaning that when a certain leading resilience that included the idea of creating a nerve indicator lights up, this is the moment to launch center. Is doing that now important? the action—or at least the detailed planning that will lead to that action’s execution. It’s important “It’s important that the plan-ahead team consider every possible scenario. Optimism bias can be a big problem in this situation.” –Mihir Mysore COVID-19: Strategies for getting ahead of the pandemic crisis 129