The first quarter of 2020 has challenged everyone in our community. We’ve seen bushfires and floods. Now COVID-19 is creating health, employment, and financial uncertainty like never before, and we have no idea how long it will last.

We all feel vulnerable in some way, and each of us will react differently. In times like these it can be helpful to reflect on our core purpose, and focus on what really matters to us.

For 3rdView, ‘Humanity’ is central to everything we do. We help bring human insights from customers and employees to business decision-making. Our Human-Centred approach connects people, and is particularly powerful when they are at their most vulnerable.

Over the past few days I’ve consciously spent time reflecting on how 3rdView’s core principles come to life in an environment where face-to-face connection is discouraged. We’ve found three ways we can embrace our principles and support our community.

1.  Conversation and Collaboration

Who can you reach out to today?

Face-to-face communication is powerful. It provides genuine human connection, and helps us understand emotions.

Connecting in-person is always preferred, but all of a sudden people being instructed to stay away from each other. People will feel isolated and lonely quickly, which places their mental health and wellbeing at risk.

Our 3rdView team has have committed time each day to reach out to our business and personal networks. We’re proactively checking in with fellow small business owners, clients, suppliers and consultants just to ask ‘R U OK?’.

2.  Empathy

What does the world look like through someone else’s eyes?

Empathy is the ability to walk in someone else’s shoes, and to see the world through their eyes. It underpins our ability to understand people’s drivers and behaviours.

When people are vulnerable their behaviours can seem irrational to outsiders. We are navigating COVID-19 together, but our personal stories, situations and experiences are incredibly diverse.

By taking the time to pause and empathise with people around us, 3rdView’ers are open to a range of different perspectives and challenges. This is helping us to be more compassionate and tolerant, and take small steps at the supermarket, in coffee shops, and at work to offer support when people need it most.

3.  Positivity (and kindness!)

How can you make someone’s day a little brighter?

‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind’… and positive! Positivity means that we bring our best selves to a conversation, share our energy, and look for ways that we can make everyone’s day a little brighter.

The current COVID-19 situation is uncertain and scary. For many people, it’s hard not to let the negative emotions take over, and to feel overwhelmed with everything that’s going on.

As always, the 3rdView team are choosing to focus on what we can do, and the things that energise people around us. We’re getting outside and staying active, giving people a smile, and ensuring that our language remains positive.

We’re also taking the opportunity to reconnect with some of the people and pastimes that we’ve lost touch with. Have a look at this Queensland Health Mental Health & Wellbeing site for some ideas and reminders!

 

Humanity is central to 3rdView’s purpose. We’d love to hear how your purpose is shaping your behaviour to support others… we’re all in this together!