The power of communication—from the right people and through the right methods—can influence results in profound ways. The outcomes of the COVID-19 virus on the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco provides a powerful case study.

The verdict is in, and it’s not good. Many organizational change initiatives fail to produce the desired results, leaving in their wake emptier coffers and a host of skeptical employees.

As we continue to learn and evolve in unprecedented times, the sense that we are living in the term “VUCA world” has never seemed more true. The term was coined in the late 80’s, and stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity—certainly an accurate description of the last few months.

Change can be purposeful and deliberate. In other cases, however, change can be completely unexpected.