We are going through a unique time in human history. It may seem as though life as we know it has changed forever. While that remains to be seen, there certainly has been great disruption. I would argue that wanting or trying to get back to “normal” is not the best direction for our energy. That’s like skating to where the puck was, or simply making decisions with obsolete information. It will likely have a poor ROI for the energy you give it.In my opinion, getting back to normal is less important than making sure that we are on top of our game. In other words, I recommend spending your energy making sure that you are giving this crisis your very present best. So how can we, as business leaders, ensure that we are fully present and on top of our game?

Take a long-term view

Fear is a destroyer of progress. Getting caught in fight or flight mode could cause a reduction in higher cognitive processing. Even when it seems like the world is collapsing around us, it’s beneficial to take a step back and be a student of history. Read about Napoleon’s encounter with the plague during his Egyptian campaign, or about the Antonine Plague during Marcus Aurelius’ time, or even read The Plague, a fictional book by Albert Camus.The purpose of reading these accounts is not to scare or frighten you; it is to give some perspective from human existence. These are the times that demand the best from all of us. This perspective may offer you some peace. In fact, Jeff Bezos, who is known to play the long game, believes in that perspective so much that he invested $42 million to build a 10,000-year clock. Perspective brings peace.

Focus on what is essential

Many reports have suggested that our current 24-hour news cycle and social media consumption, particularly during the coronavirus crisis, could be detrimental to our health. My recommendation: Pay attention to what you need to in order to move forward — and nothing more. In his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey writes about two circles: the circle of concern and the circle of influence. He argues that you shouldn’t allow your focus to get sucked in by the circle of concern, and instead you should focus your energy on the circle of influence. When you intentionally focus energy on your circle of influence, your circle will grow and you will be able to effect greater change.

Train fundamentals

When floods, hurricanes or tornadoes hit, the news always shows areal footage of the destruction. It’s always the same: unrecognizable debris scattered across intact foundations. Unfortunately, homes and trees without solid substructures are usually gone without a trace.I would argue that all disasters are similar in this regard. During economic upheaval, businesses that have a chance to rebuild are the ones that have solid fundamentals and foundations to build on. These fundamentals will differ from industry to industry. As a leader, it is incumbent upon you to identify your top three fundamental processes and train your team on them. In an uncertain landscape, it is important to identify what is most important and do those few things very well.

This practice was well articulated in Jim Collins’ book Good to Great. Collins refers to it as the Hedgehog Concept, building on an essay by Isaiah Berlin. The takeaway: People who build good to great companies tend to be deeply passionate experts focused on one big thing. People leading comparison companies lack the “clarifying advantage” because they focus on many things, leading them to become scattered and inconsistent.

Trust your training

In the penultimate scene of Star Wars: A New Hope, Luke has the last chance to destroy the Death Star by firing his proton torpedoes into its reactor core. Despite the noise of his team, the pursuit of his rivals and the extra information given to him by his computers, Luke’s spiritual guide tells him to “use the force.” Luke ultimately succeeds in destroying the Death Star and saves the planet.

In this case, “use the force” can be translated to “trust yourself.” When there is extreme external noise, stillness and peace can be found through trusting that whatever brought you to this stage of life will ultimately be what gets you through the challenges that you are facing. Times of crisis are when the fruits of your labor are revealed, and thankfully so. Trust that you have what it takes to move forward.

Originally written here: Austin Business Journals Leadership Trust