Dealers are handling many concerns right now, and it’s difficult to know where to prioritize time and resources. One way to choose is to consider what is truly important to your dealership. Most dealerships are watching out for people right now — employees, customers, vendors and partners.

The priority is keeping employees safe and well. We must also communicate with existing customers. Some of them won’t be buying or servicing a car right now, but they will appreciate being updated on any changes to your business operations. You should also update other stakeholders regularly, so they know you are still in business and have an idea of what to expect from you.

Everyone has been bombarded during the past few weeks with information about COVID-19. Even though everyone wants to know what’s going on, sometimes there is just too much information at one time. The result is information overload.

Information overload can cause us to miss out on important news. Sometimes it can cause us to believe potentially harmful misinformation. For instance, an MIT study performed in 2018 found that false news travels faster than accurate news on social media.

To make sense of all the conflicting information dealership managers receive, they need to take the time to evaluate whether the articles they’re reading have been fact-checked and are from a reliable source.

Significant changes combined with uncertainty can cause intense emotions. That’s as true for business leaders as it is for everyone else. They have to navigate their personal lives, and they also have to do their best for their employees and customers.

Think about the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” When a crisis continues for too long, it leads to burnout, and once someone gets to that point, they can’t help anyone else until they take care of their own needs. That’s why small-business owners must carve out time to recharge and take care of themselves.

The business landscape is changing at a rapid pace. New government regulations and guidelines are frequent right now, and you need to evaluate each one to determine how each change will affect your business.

To understand and follow new legislation and changes, business owners will need to monitor news from the local, state and federal government daily. Most importantly, make sure you’re getting your information from an official source. These sources include bank representatives, accountants, and other professionals in your network, such as your association’s leaders. We’re here to help and are continually working to make sure that you have useful information so you can make correct decisions.

Nothing like the current crisis has ever occurred during most people’s lifetime unless they are old enough to remember the 1918 influenza pandemic. Even then, though, the scale of the current crisis is unprecedented. But remember: we have good news as well as bad news. The crisis will end, and people will move forward feeling empowered. Entire communities are drawing together, too. The empowerment and connection we feel will benefit dealerships.

On a personal note, the industry lost a force of good earlier this year, when Robert Garff passed away from COVID-19. Bob was a great man; he served, and he led with grace, joy and humility. He was a friend and mentor to many — including me — and he will be missed.