Five years ago this March, the COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down. We learned a lot during that time — and in the months and years ahead, we’ll need to put those lessons to use.

Whether or not you agree with the directives of the new U.S. administration, it’s clear that the White House is looking to disrupt long-established norms. These changes span everything from our industry’s relationship with the federal government to international politics, the economy and the supply chain.

Harvard Business Review recently published an excellent article on lessons we learned — or should have learned — from the COVID era that still apply today, especially when navigating drastic change. A few key points stuck out to me, particularly as they relate to the AV industry.

Unlike the early days of the pandemic, we now have a clear understanding that major shifts are coming. That’s an advantage. The challenge, of course, is that we don’t yet know what those shifts will be. This is where the first pandemic-era lesson comes in: Proactively engage with uncertainty.

As President Trump builds out new strategies around economic and political relationships, instability is inevitable. But rather than hitting refresh on the news every hour, use that time to prepare. How might tariffs affect the companies you source from? Where are those products manufactured? How do they get to the U.S.? Have these conversations with your reps. Build educated-guess spreadsheets to project cost changes — and share them with your customers. If a company is heavily reliant on China or Mexico, it may be time to explore alternatives with more stable supply chains.

I get that estimating future costs is tricky right now. That brings us to the second lesson: Communication builds trust and confidence. Your customers will appreciate the transparency, and you should expect the same from them. Schools, universities, government buildings and corporations are all facing major uncertainty. Projects once guaranteed may suddenly stall. Ask your clients to keep you updated on their plans. This kind of mutual trust will be critical in the years ahead.

That trust needs to run up and down the AV ladder. My integration reps can’t tell manufacturers what they’re hearing unless I’m honest with them. And I can’t fully understand potential implications unless the manufacturers are being candid in return.

The third lesson: People are what keep every organization running. No matter your stance on current policy, most Americans are being affected — some positively, some negatively. That impact stretches into families, incomes, and even where people live. If you’re in AV and serve government or educational sectors, you’re likely to feel these shifts. Federal grant programs may vanish. Government buildings may close or be sold. If your business is at risk of losing that revenue, be honest with your team now. Let them know where things stand. Don’t leave people blindsided when they could be planning ahead.

Our industry has endured plenty of upheaval before — and we’ll get through this, too. We may even come out stronger. But that’s only possible if we commit to communicating, embracing the unknown and treating people with decency.