A former colleague of mine from Minneapolis named Mel who lives in an area that was looted and burned following the death of George Floyd wrote about what we can and must do: “Start those important conversations with yourself and with those who ‘think’ they understand as the first steps toward driving real change.” She said, “Listen and look for the sounds of racism that are often more passive than they are overt,” and asserted that we must no longer agree to disagree or “not rock the boat.” Instead, she said, “We must take a stand. Every damn day.”

Our own capital city is now under a curfew following a weekend that included both peaceful protests and violent actions at a time when our resolve is being tested in the throes of a pandemic. Clearly there is no leadership playbook for the situation we find ourselves in. Even the best of contingency plans for any company or community could not have anticipated what we are experiencing and what it has exposed — social injustices and deep inequities throughout the nation and in our own community. 

How do we lead ourselves and others through these turbulent times, not knowing what is next? How do we know what to do to make a difference, especially where inequities and racism are concerned?  

As leaders, we must do the best we can with the knowledge and fortitude we possess. That starts with clarity. At a minimum, that means putting the safety and security of others first, mobilizing our teams, and managing our businesses with a moral compass calibrated with compassion and respect for all people. 

Like many of you, I am feeling the magnitude of it all and wondering what we can do. As daunting as it is, here’s the one thing I can say with complete confidence and conviction: We cannot stand idly by and hope that others will address the situation, that the violence and noise will die down, or that things will go “back to normal,” a phrase that disturbingly points to a time when we could more easily ignore the suffering of others because it was not as visible. 

In recent months, Business Publications Corp. has redeployed our resources to provide forums to bring together business and community leaders and expertise in many ways. We’ve worked to advance understanding of the pandemic and foster dialogue about the effects of the pandemic on business and the economy.

But we are more than the jobs we do. We are also parents, grandparents, friends, family and neighbors. We are part of a community, and that community is only as strong as all of our citizens. And let’s be clear: Many of our citizens have been struggling. The pandemic has only exacerbated that suffering. Acknowledging that reality, and then listening – really listening — as my friend Mel said, and empathizing are key even before we take action.

As leaders, we play a critical role in addressing the issues that prevent all citizens from living healthy and productive lives. At BPC, we take our role in the community very seriously. You have my commitment that our entire company will come to the table with other leaders to take a stand around racism and inequities – with active listening, reporting, storytelling, opportunities for dialogue and connection and ideas for short and long-term action and change. We will continue to be a partner in facing and discussing difficult truths and working to find solutions to the challenges in our midst.

It’s up to all of us to develop our own leadership playbooks. Now is the time we must take a stand.