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This article originally appeared here in the Kansas City Business Journal
Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director and COO of The DeBruce Foundation
As the world continues to feel the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we find ourselves in uncharted territory. The impacts on our safety, healthcare system, education, and economy are top of mind. Everyone – from our nation’s leaders to the family next door – is needing to be more agile in order to care for our community and prepare for the road that lies ahead of us. And, just like any challenge, this unprecedented time gives us opportunities.
I’ve been heartened to see our community’s responses to shoulder each other’s hardships during this time. Individuals and organizations are jumping into action, utilizing their skills and resources – maybe in completely new ways – for the good of their neighbor. The Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund is a great example. These moments highlight that a team spirit and an entrepreneurial mindset are more important today than ever before. Social distancing has not managed to distance us from caring for each other.
At The DeBruce Foundation, we too are monitoring and adjusting for how we can help people in these times. Our mission is to expand economic growth and opportunity, and our guiding values are trust, compassion, stability and hope.
With this in mind, we are focused on sharing our free resources and tools that may be particularly helpful now, as many more people will have extra time at home, and as the future of work is changing before our eyes. Here are three assets people can use today:
- The Agile Work Profiler. The Agile Work Profiler is an online career assessment that is free to the public and only takes 10 minutes to complete. The Agile Work Profiler helps individuals harness the power of self-awareness and achieve deeper insights into their own strengths and interests.
- Draw Your Future with Agilities. This online tutorial video is free to use and can help you prepare for what’s ahead. It walks you through how to discover your Agilities, and then how to use them as you literally draw your future… which can help you to start to expand your pathways. The process takes about an hour. Now is a great time to invest in yourself, take time to process, and dream.
- The DeBruce Foundation Resources webpage. We’ve created a one-stop shop of our free resources for individuals and educators on our website. In light of current challenges to our world, it is more important than ever to be agile in the face of change. The tools on this page can help with this and can be used in current online learning environments.
At The DeBruce Foundation, we are committed to supporting you in becoming aware of your strengths, affirming your goals, and activating the “Agility Advantage” in your personal and family life, at school, and in your career. Having the “Agility Advantage” means you are prepared to overcome challenges and navigate the upcoming changes in the workplace and in our world.
The “Agility Advantage” is an important way you can articulate and activate your value in these uncertain times. Let it guide you and inform you. We know when people apply the entrepreneurial spirit, we can overcome challenges and make a difference for others. Know yourself, lean into your Agilities, plan your impact. Let’s get through this together.
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