Opr Managing Director: “It’s Mental Health Awareness Month (& Why That’s More Poignant In 2020)”
In this guest post, opr’s managing director Jacqui Abbott (main photo), takes a look at October’s Mental Health Awareness Month and why it’s even more significant due to the difficulties that 2020 has thrown at us all…
My version of 2020 isn’t clouded by a pandemic. It’s clouded by sustained grief. In March, I lost my amazing Dad, after a long battle with chronic lung disease and everything changed.
October is Mental Health Awareness Month which has made me reflect on the last six months. Not only did I return to work in lockdown, but I also needed to use every ounce of energy I had to motivate a team of 40 across two states through this new state of normal, all while grappling with a big hole in my heart.
So how do you move forward and motivate others when you have never felt lower inside?
The state of the world is one thing. But navigating our own mental state and that of those around us is a major obstacle. Yet the most important one. It’s a state of imperfection we should embrace.
It’s pretty hard adjusting to life and work, when you can’t close some doors and open others. You can’t plan ahead. You need to pivot the way you did things and embrace the unknown. And everyone faces challenges differently. Some retreat. Some push through. Some are up and down.
So how do you manage that and build the resilience rib amongst your teams?
For me it was about trying to find comfort in ambiguity, embracing the loss of predictability and celebrating the small wins along the way together. You suddenly have an increased need for patience, remaining optimistic that good things will come and getting excited about what can be achieved despite everything else.
Perspective is everything. There is an amazing quote that we say a lot inside our business; an “outside perspective is a clearer perspective”. It’s never been truer in the year we have all had. Reflect on the real issues and then rethink how stressful that deadline was or how you reacted to do-dietary-supplements-work.com.
Connections have been made stronger by our entire country embracing new platforms. Recent research from Microsoft and AlphaBeta showed collaboration technologies have helped keep 3.2 million Australians working. WhatsApp usage is up 40% and 64% of us are using TikTok to be entertained. But at the heart of all this is one thing – connecting people. And boy do we need it.
For me, dealing with adversity has been about the people you need around you to lift you up. For example, talking to close friends who’d also lost a parent or loved one. They understood my experience, reminded me I wasn’t alone. Listening to their experiences was hugely beneficial.
Common ground is everything and we can usually always find it amongst our peers, our teams and the people we connect with in our everyday.
I have always been an optimistic person and vowed to turn up as a I am that day, there and then.
As an industry, we need to stop forcing perfectionism in our roles as leaders. Perfect is the enemy of good. Be yourself, have grit, have heart, waiver when you need to and most of all be human and be vulnerable because people relate better to that than anything else, especially in a year like this one.
I remember hearing a CEO for a brand we represent quote something my dad would have said in a media training session a few months ago and being forced to turn the camera off to wipe away a tear. But instead of hiding it, I owned it. I talked about it with my team who had been on the call afterwards and used the opportunity to embrace that amazing memory.
People want to see the cracks to heal their own and know they are not alone. Being imperfect inspires that in others.
As my dad, who was one of Australia’s most notable organisational psychologists for nearly five decades, famously said, “be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
So, let’s all do just that.
Please login with linkedin to comment
oprLatest News
Enjoy A Hahn Solo… And May The Fourth Be With You
This May the fourth Hahn will celebrate alongside Star Wars fans rewarding their passion via a giant Hahn travelling solo through the sky. It’s the one day of the year when all sci-fi fans rejoice and giggle to themselves and Hahn in partnership with Thinkerbell, UM and Affinity is celebrating with an out of this […]
DMARGE Founder Unveils Creator-Led Social Media Agency Feedstar
New creator-led social media agency Feedstar to be aimed directly at Gen Zs. Well, they'd hardly want print, would they?
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): A total of 1,753,000 Aussies Witness Port Adelaide’s Defeat
Seven's AFL numbers almost double that of the NRL last night. The NRL still easily winning for ruptured ACLs.
Hotglue Cashes In With La Trobe Financial Digital Media Account
Hotglue staffers learning their cashflows from their collaterals today after nabbing La Trobe Financial's digital media.
M&C Saatchi’s Sydney Creative Lead Exits
B&T's stopping short of calling it a revolving door at M&C at the present, but there's definitely heat on the hinges.
Taylor Swift’s Music Re-Enters TikTok As Universal Pens Landmark Deal
Yes, B&T may have spent 152 hours failing to get Taylor Swift tickets, but, as you'll read here, it's all behind us now.
HAVAS Red launches inaugural Influencer White Paper
Havas Red has debuted its first influencer white paper. Unless you print it out in colour, of course.
Two Sides Global Campaign Reports Increasing Greenwashing As Organisations Focus On Sustainability
New report confirms greenwashing's on the rise. Apparently Mars' 'work, rest & play' claims also under investigation.
Aruga Launches New HQ & Changed Ownership Structure
PR agency Aruga proves Brisbane is 'so hot right now'. So hot in fact, Adelaide's had to go on anti-anxiety meds.
Delicious & American Express Partner To Launch Month Out 2024 In Sydney
Cost of living got you eating noodles prepared in the two-minute style? Why not live vicariously through this.
Aussie Ad Market Continues Decline In March
The belt-tightening in adland shows signs of a turnaround soon. Bar the belt-loosening at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
VMA Focuses On Skills And Training For Members
If there was a post-COVID hangover (bar the anti-vax ranters) it was the rise in skills shortages. Here's another one.
Nearly 90% Of Consumers Want Transparency About AI Images, Finds Getty Images Report
Study finds consumers want transparency around AI images. Couldn't care less about photoshopped magazine covers.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation Partners With VML To Boost Funds
Anyone else feel we've exhausted the office morning tea for cancer? B&T proposes the office moonshine still instead.
Perry ‘Pez’ Lazaris Named New National Hit Network Announcer
Why is it mandatory for the media to only publish the nicknames of people in radio & underworld crime figures?
Before Adland: Garry Dawson’s Journey From Teacher To Marketer
Here, the Hopeful Monsters marketer talks his shift from the classroom to the room wherever marketers congregate.
Scott Cam Urges Tradies To Prioritise Sun Protection
The Block host promoting sun protection to tradies. Also, don't try getting into the RSL after 6pm wearing high viz.
PubMatic Study: Advertising On Retail Media Is 50% More Effective Than Social Media
New study finds retail media 50% more effective than social. B&T says two-for-one Tim Tams trumps the lot.
From MOWING to life GROWING: Jim Penman launches ‘Life Coaching’ services
Can't decide on getting the hedges trimmed or finding a deeper meaning to life? You're in luck with this new venture.
Budweiser Brazil Turns Songs That Name Drop The Iconic Brand Into Spotify Ads
It's strange that Budweiser never found a market among beer-swilling Aussies. Then again, neither did the fluffy duck.
Effie Worldwide Strengthens Board With 6 New Members
B&T hopes everyone's wearing their Maseur sandals at the Effies, as it's standing room only at the next board meeting.
Special Enlist A Penguin Named Nigel In Latest Energy Campaign For Contact
Special unveils Nigel the penguin in work for energy provider Contact. Apparently Percy the peacock was booked.
Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth & George Miller Ignite Sydney For Epic Mad Max Launch
The Mad Max film franchise is Australia's cinematic gift to the world. That & Chris Hemsworth's near perfect cheekbones.
IAS Launches First-To-Market Integration With Roblox To Provide 3D Immersive Measurement
Always thought you could do with better 3D immersive measurement? Happy days are ahead here.
Fast And Furious: Top Gear Australia Launch Thrilled Motorheads, Car Entusiasts And Guests
B&T is still no closer to knowing who the new Stig is, except that she is a woman and a ridiculously fast.
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): Seven’s The 1% Club Wins The Night
The 1% club did not live up to its name when it comes to TV ratings last night.
TRA Welcomes Raft Of New Hires; Bolstering Expertise Across Markets
Insights and research agency TRA announces slew of new hires. Still no news on the return of marble wash denim, however.
CX Lavender Hires Boston Consulting Group’s Kim Verbrugghe as Chief Strategy Officer
CX Lavender announces new strategy hire and channels 'acoustic folk act at local RSL' for the publicity pic.
Opinion: Community standards, will they be the death of us?
This columnist is talking community standards. Sadly not those people who put dogs in trolleys in supermarkets.
Tegel gets heads bobbing with new free-range chicken platform
Sure, there's a lot of moral considerations when buying a chook. Yet, not as baffling as buying eggs or canned tuna.
Study: 66% of Aussie men believe masculinity is under attack
Two-thirds of Aussie blokes say masculinity's under attack. That said, sales of Solo lemon drink appear robust.
‘Equal Writes’: Canyon reveals new campaign and refreshed brand for women and non-binary writers
As this brand redesign again proves, nothing beats black on white. Well, white on black in this instance.
Icon Agency bolsters consumer and integrated offer with major hires
Icon Agency unveils new recruits. As press photo confirms office moustache competition now a lay-down misère.
Clemenger launches agricultural graduate program
Has Farmer Wants A Wife triggered an interest in dagging & hay balers? This grads program may resonate.
Levi’s Appoint UM As Global Media Agency For $217m Account
Levi's are the jeans for rockstars, models & the cool kids. Although that's not stopped dads from ruining their image.
QMS Nabs Sean Rigby From oOh!media
Things set to get spicy at the next Outdoor Media Association dinner and dance as a rival gets poached.