Communication is an important part of any organization—whether it is to internal or external audiences or in an office or remote setting. 

Many of us have had to change the way we communicate within our organizations due to the coronavirus pandemic and the process will continue to evolve.  

Writing for Forbes, corporate communications expert Muthamma Archarya relays four lessons she has learned about communications during times of need. 

Employees need communication, even if leaders don’t always have answers 

Reacting to a global pandemic means things are changing more quickly than we are used to. If you spend too much time crafting the perfect message to your team, the message could be outdated before you send it.  

Archarya recommends that messages should be rolled out quickly, and that decision makers should be working with communications professionals at every stage in the process.  

“All the feedback loops have been pointing to a need for more reassurances from top management,” she says. “Even if the CEO doesn’t have all the answers, showing that they are on top of things is important to the team.” 

Stay honest and true to your values 

No one can say they know with certainty what the future holds, so leaders have to be honest when communicating to their teams. The only thing that organizations can be certain about is staying true to their already-established missions. 

“In times like these, it’s important to rally your teams to do the right things: show empathy, support your community, and be good humans first,” Archarya explains. “It shows the value-based underpinnings of your organization.” 

Share the vision loud and clear 

The more you focus on sharing your values, the easier it is for the entire organization to focus on a collective mission. 

“The visionary leaders I’m seeing are the ones who ensure that their voice is heard calling the troops to rally toward a shared vision, and to act with purpose and urgency,” Archarya says. “This is beneficial to the organization; it also reminds individuals to remain focused and work toward a common goal.” 

Create a space for your employees, and listen to them 

Everyone is going through something in the current crisis whether it’s economic or health concerns, child-care worries, or something you haven’t even thought about. 

“During this challenging time, there is no script to follow, no case studies to emulate; all this is very new,” Archarya says. “Smart leaders are the ones who listen more so they can provide a more appropriate response to each changing scenario.”