The COVID-19 virus has claimed yet another week of mounting body counts and infection rates. While health care professionals work overtime to understand how the virus works and to find a treatment for it, other professionals are stepping up and going the extra mile to contribute.
Health Care Workers
Doctors and nurses are getting the bulk of the attention, and rightfully so. They are putting their health and lives on the line to save the lives of strangers, just like the firefighters did during 9/11. It takes a special person to choose a professional life of protecting others — and then go beyond the call of duty. Who walks into a room with people infected with the virus wearing less than adequate protection to make sure the sick – many of whom will die – are at least a little more comfortable on their journey to the other side? A doctor or a nurse. And let’s not forget everybody else at the hospital, from the food preparers to the custodians to the security guards. They are all putting themselves in harm’s way for the greater good.
Schools and Teachers
Schools have scrambled to offer students distance learning opportunities and are trying to keep some semblance of a school year operating. Some teachers didn’t have the skills or proper training to put distance-learning lesson plans together or never thought they’d have to be available remotely for their students — but that didn’t stop them. I’ve seen reports of teachers calling students on the telephone just to say hello. Others drive by their students’ houses so they can wave hello. Many teachers also participate in delivering meals to low-income students. Even though teachers didn’t go to college and graduate school to become delivery drivers, they’re doing what needs to be done for the greater good.
Other Heroic Professionals
Evidence of professionals working beyond their job descriptions is everywhere.
Grocery store stockers: they grieve because they can’t keep the toilet paper on the shelves, despite having nothing to do with the supply chain.
Check-out persons: they deal with potentially infected people throughout their shifts.
Letter carriers and delivery drivers: they make sure things arrive to people’s homes on time when they’d rather be safe at their homes.
Reporters: they keep their professional composure while delivering information about the pandemic so as not to cause panic in viewers.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to take the extra step and not cut corners in your professional life, look to the brave men and women who are keeping society afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of their professional backgrounds, their schooling, their pay grade or their skills, they are stepping up.
We will all be faced with times in our professional lives where we can do the bare minimum of what’s expected, or we can go above and beyond. What kind of person will you be when the call comes?