8 Things Most Useful Right Now

The arts help us in dealing with uncertainty. A question I learned from an actor has guided me in crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A face mask on Wäinö Aaltonen´s sculpture of olympian Paavo Nurmi is part of HAM Helsinki´s public art collection. Image: Maarit Hohteri/City of Helsinki.

I currently run a department of 1 800 colleagues. Most of our staff are front-line workers, i.e. working in sports halls, swimming halls, youth clubs, libraries, cultural centres, orchestras and museums. When the pandemic hit Finland, we noticed rather quickly that managers, staff members and customers reacted in differently to the uncertainty. Many managers noticed that people had surprising reactions. Some got easily irritated. Some went on overdrive and started working like crazy. With some staff members, the managers felt that they had to repeat things more than normal to get their message through. Some people were completely silent in online meetings.

We decided to organize an online workshop for all our manager on dealing with uncertainty and fear.

At the same time an independent committee was finalizing Helsinki´s vision for arts and culture. We had received criticism from the arts field that the city´s ambition on the arts was not clear. Also the city council had required us to write a new vision for arts and culture.

In the vision proposal the independent committee writes:

“Art helps Helsinki face and change the future. Art increases understanding, promotes critical and constructive dialogue and promotes a sustainable world.”

A visitor in HAM Helsinki´s exhibition Museum of Becoming by Laura Gustafsson and Terike Haapoja.

We decided to test this out and asked one of the country´s most recognizable actors, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, to share his thinking on how to deal with something you cannot control. Björkman was phenomenal as he talked about how you deal with fear in theatre. To paraphrase him, he said that it is important to recognize, name and even describe the emotion. However, doing this is different than letting it take over the situation. He said that often recognizing and describing the emotion allows you to put it aside and focus on the work at hand.

He also encouraged us to be forgiving to ourselves. Björkman said that in exceptional circumstances an “OK” day is a good day. He also suggested a question, which helps you deal with the unexpected. The question was:

What would be most useful in this situation?

Hannu-Pekka Björkman speaking to our manager over Microsoft Teams on 24 April 2020.

His suggested question somehow feels too simple to work. But it does. I have gone back to this question time and time again when faced with not knowing how we can carry out our services tomorrow or next week. When we do not have answers to how we shall help our partners or cover our losses. “What would be most useful in this situation” calms me down.

A large part of Helsinki City Museum´s photography collection is publicly available at www.helsinkikuvia.fi.

Tomorrow is Monday 30 November and a set of new tough restrictions will start for the next three weeks to combat the alarming spread of the virus. From tomorrow on, youth clubs, museums, cultural centres, sports halls and swimming clubs are closed. Libraries are open only for quick loans. People are encouraged to limit their social contacts to their household. Most children´s hobbies are put on hold. Public gatherings and events are restricted to absolutely necessary ones like funerals.

So what would be most useful right now? Here´s my top eight.

1. Clarity: A stressed and scared person needs clarity and repetition. Talk calm, say things a couple times and check if the recipient has any concerns or questions.
2. Information: Spread only information, which is verified. Trust in science. Don´t spread rumors. When you don´t have information, say you don´t know yet.
3. Action: Move. Get out of the house. Do arts and crafts. Exercise. Sort out that pile of paper at the office or on your desk. Re-organize your cabinets. Any physical movement releases stress.
4. Cheerleading: Take note of good things around you and by other people. Cheer up your spouse or colleague by giving a compliment. Take care of the people around you. Buy a gift card to a local theatre or restaurant to be used later. Support your local businesses.
5. Emotions: Emotions are proof that we are living and loving beings. Do not belittle, push aside or ignore emotions. However, pay attention to the way you and other channel emotions. Worry and fear are OK at home and at work but shouting or blaming or aggression are not even if they arise from fear. Apologize if things boiled over. Forgive.
6. Example: Use a face mask. Keep a social distance. Stay home if you show flu symptoms. Wash your hands.
7. Beauty: Find things that give you hope, things that are good, true and beautiful. It might be a walk in nature. It might be classical music or Kylie Minogue. It might be reading the Bible or Christmas music. It might be watching a documentary on dolphins.
8. Kindness: Notice the people around you. Take eye contact on the street. Try smiling behind a mask. Stay calm and friendly especially when the other person is in an agitated state.