Itās easy to identify a panic and neglect cycle in terms of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Some governments were somewhat prepared, but others were in a phase of neglect.
There is an organization that was setup by the World Bank and the World Health Organization to āprovideĀ independent monitoring and accountability body to ensure preparedness for global health crisesā.Ā Itās aptly named the āGlobal Preparedness Monitoring Boardā. Hereās an excerpt from their report last year:
There is a very real threat of a rapidly moving, highly lethal pandemic of a respiratory pathogen killing 50 to 80 million people and wiping out nearly 5 percent of the worldās economy.
For too long, we have allowed a cycle of panic and neglect when it comes to pandemics: we ramp up efforts when there is a serious threat, then quickly forget about them when the threat subsides.
Itās common to see a cycle of panic and neglect in the public sector, but itās also possible to identify the cycles in private organizations. Security is one example. After a breach, thereās panic, but after time passes, a period of neglect often occurs.
I can also identify this cycle on a personal level even in small ways - for example after a period of ādietary neglectā Iāll panic-fill my fridge with vegetables!
Can you identify any cycles of panic and neglect in your personal or professional life?