This press release highlights a communication strategy to streamline critical data for stakeholders on how to marshal local resources and allow stakeholders in other locations to learn from standardized solutions that already work.

The COVID-19 Communications Pallet provides governmental and health care leaders a way to notify business owners and community members of how they can assist in the efforts to combat the pandemic. It provides people with the information of who to ask for assistance (e.g., “people who make things”) and for those who are asked, information of how to re-tool their efforts to meet existing needs (e.g., make face masks or hand sanitizer). Each state should create a concise and standardized communications pallet that highlights no more than 10 primary challenges of the pandemic and the tested and proven solutions to those challenges. Specifically provide the following information:

• what works and how it works
• the type of business entities that can provide solutions locally
• what levels of production it requires
• additional resources need to enhance production or performance.

Presenting, and updating daily, this information in a centralized online location for governors, mayors, and health care leaders to access will provide techniques, methodologies, and resources effective in fighting COVID-19.

Additionally, in line with the PIERCE Model’s performance standard, this communication strategy highlights five “unbreakable rules” to follow for greater effectiveness:

1. Never substitute a tool for a solution. In other words, effective communication must give specific direction to a solution. Instead of telling people not to get sick, leaders must tell them how not to get sick.
2. Avoid confusion. Because confusion equals risk, communication must be clear and specific.
3. Communicate more effectively, not necessarily more frequently. COVID-19 instructions must be concise, direct, uniform, and standardized.
4. Bend behavior. In order to “bend the curve,” we have to “bend human behavior” by engaging in more effective communication.
5. Perform to standards of excellence. Leaders must perform diligently to avoid failure.