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 an email.
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
The Five Values For Business Success
Mark Carter is an international keynote speaker, trainer and coach. He has over 20 years’ experience as a global learning and development professional and author of the book Add Value. In this guest post, Carter offers his five tips for business success… The value language of business has become synonymous with measurable results: dollars in […]
Destination Gold Coast Launches Largest-Ever Tourism Campaign
The largest-ever tourism push to promote the Gold Coast urges Aussies to ‘Come Back and Play’ as part of Destination Gold Coast’s latest campaign has launched. The $3.5 million promotion is the second iteration of Destination Gold Coast’s (DGC) Come Back and Play campaign which first launched in June – asking Queenslanders to explore their […]
Sunday TV Wrap: NRL Grand Final Pulls 2.1 Million
Last night’s NRL decider between the Storm and the Panthers pulled 2.103 million viewers according to OzTAM metro numbers. Some 1.145 million tuned in for the pre-match entertainment and 1.290 hung around to see Cameron Smith lift the trophy. The numbers were up on last year’s grand final between the Roosters and Raiders that peaked […]
Heineken Launches ‘Cheers To All’ Marketing Campaign In Australia
Heineken has unveiled a global campaign in Australia, ‘Cheers to All’, which takes a light-hearted view on the stereotypes associated with ordering certain drinks. The spot’s the work of Publicis Italy. Through this campaign, Heineken encourages viewers to look at life with a fresh perspective, underpinned by the belief that you will enjoy it more […]
Malcolm Turnbull Signs Petition Calling For A Royal Commission Into News Corp
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has put his support behind a royal commission into News Corp. Kevin Rudd launched a petition a petition to the Australian parliament two weeks ago, comparing the Murdoch media empire to a ‘cancer’ and suggesting the organisation had used its dominance to “chill free speech and undermine public debate”. Over […]
SecondBite Food Rescue Launches First National Campaign
SecondBite, in collaboration with creative agency Collins + Partners and media agency OMD, has launched a campaign to raise awareness on food rescue to help Australians in need. SecondBite rescues fresh and nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it free of charge to over 1000 charities nationwide – thus reducing carbon […]
KitKat Launches New Campaign Encouraging Aussies To ‘Give the Planet a Break’
The KitKat team today announced its bold move to temporarily replace the logo on its iconic four-finger milk chocolate bar, as part of a new campaign ‘Give the Planet a Break’ – designed to encourage and educate Aussies on how to recycle soft plastics correctly. The limited-edition bars feature a KitKat-inspired recycling symbol and an explicit call to […]
Is B2B Marketing Missing Its Emotional Touch?
B2B marketers could learn a thing or two from their B2C colleagues, argues WP Engine VP APAC sales Mark Randall in this guest post. It surprises me how many B2B organisations are not quite hitting the mark when it comes to reaching their audience. When talking directly to businesses, many brands are missing an opportunity […]
Aussie Taxpayers Invested $50M In Failed Streaming Service
Fresh from buying the Australia Post board Cartier watches, the Aussie taxpayer is copping yet another shafting here.
Springfree Trampoline Unveils New TV ‘That’s Why We Got A Springfree’
Who didn't love the backyard trampoline as a kid? And many of us still carry the physical scarring from the adventure.
Women In Media’s Tara O’Keefe: “What Worked Yesterday Doesn’t Today And Certainly Won’t Tomorrow”
Here's some wise words from QMS’ Tara O’Keefe. Yet, not that wise that you'd have to have done chemistry for the HSC.
An “Intellectual Thickshake”: Ben Fordham Rips On Pete Evans, As Pete Viciously Fires Back
B&T's understanding is that Pete Evans is a chef? Why doesn't he pop on the apron and get back to cooking dinner?
Why The ACCC Has Its Eye On iMessage, Facebook Messenger And WhatsApp
Any bartender that served Rod Sims a chardonnay would NOT want to fall short of that line on the glass, that's for sure.
Burger King Trials Reusable Packaging
Here's a top initiative from Burger King that does kinda sound like a slightly tedious Craig Reucassel documentary.
Thursday TV Wrap: Gogglebox Takes Top Spot Despite Slight Dip
Gogglebox is almost like a scientific, neurological study into the human condition. Just with more bogans and ad breaks.
Borat Hijacks Landmarks Around The World To Promote Long-Awaited Sequel
Borat promotion comes to Bondi. And even it couldn't find any parking & got charged $9 for a tumeric almond milk latte.
Freelancers Marketplace Fiverr Appoints Bohemia For TV And BVOD In Australia
Freelance marketplace Fiverr has appointed Bohemia. B&T understands it's full-time and not three days casual.
Smarter Use Of Art & Science Stretch Auto Budgets Further
The majority of adverts uploaded to Facebook aren’t created for Facebook as its priority. This is causing huge inefficiencies and poor performance for brands, many of whom are facing up to shrinking budgets. Tom Phillips (main photo) managing director at Connecting Plots shares lessons from 12 campaigns they optimised for auto brands… It’s no secret […]
Jaguar Land Rover Appoints Haystac As PR Agency Of Record
We're not entirely sure if B&T goes to eastern suburbs real estate agents, but Haystac has won Land Rover's PR.
Greenpeace Warns Of The Dangers Of Deforestation In Stunning Animated Spot
Want to feel slightly more shit than you already do? A Greenpeace ad's guaranteed to activate the depression hormones.
Young Guns Take The Lead With The First PRIA University Mentoring Program In NSW
On Wednesday, 21 October 2020, the PR industry was bolstered by the launch of the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s (PRIA) first University Mentoring Program in New South Wales, adapting the traditional face-to-face program to a virtual format for the first time. In collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the PRIA NSW Young […]
JCDecaux Teams Up With MyPayNow To Serve Real-Time Data
JCDecaux has developed a dynamic digital campaign with live timetable data where commuters can access their money from MyPayNow while waiting for the bus. In an exclusive nationwide Out-Of-Home campaign, JCDecaux’s SMARTFRAME digital assets are broadcasting bus arrival times, letting commuters know how far away their next bus is – and just how easy it […]
Rokt Secures $US80M Series D Investment Round
Rokt has today announced an investment of US$80M. The capital will help accelerate research & development and support the expansion of its client base into new verticals and geographies as Rokt continues to make e-commerce smarter, faster, and better. The funding round was led by Rokt’s largest institutional shareholder TDM Growth Partners , and supported […]
Election Billboard Claiming Biden Is Mentally Unfit Spells Dementia Wrong
This actually would be hilarious had it not been about electing the next leader of the free world.
INNOCEAN Snares CHEP’s Wesley Hawes For ECD Role
Photographer goes the full "Leibovitz" to create moody, ethereal press pic for Welsey Hawes announcement.
How Human Centred Design Can Help Define Brand Experience
Admittedly, this one is a little highbrow and arty. However, a refreshing change from B&T's usual lowbrow and farty.
Nature Invests In New Team Members And Innovation
Leading strategic insights consultancy Nature today announced it has hired several key new team members and restructured senior roles to increase its focus on innovation, including new technology and data sources.
Dentsu International To Be Net Zero Emissions Agency By 2030
Admittedly, B&T's own net zero emissions targets have been hampered by the burnout competition in the car park.
PayPal And Buy From The Bush Launch New Marketplace
PayPal Australia and Buy From The Bush have joined forces to launch a new online marketplace to showcase rural Australian small businesses in time for Christmas. The expanded partnership aims to build stronger connections between bush businesses and Australians in cities and suburbs across the country. The new Buy From The Bush Marketplace is an […]
Foxtel Upfronts: New Shows, Remote Voice Control, & Foxtel Media’s New Data Platform For Buyers
Seven's yesterday, Foxtel's Upfronts today. If it wasn't for this pandemic, B&T staff should be very hungover about now.
