This is LifeWork

2020 was a year for history books.  Ours too.

We watched fires decimate over 18 million hectares of Australian bush, the UK officially exit from the European Union, President Trump be impeached and then acquitted, the Covid-19 pandemic spread worldwide and the 2020 Olympic games postponed for the first time in history (except during WWI and II), world financial markets collapse into one of the most significant global crises in decades, and the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement make waves internationally. 

Of this non-exhaustive list of major world events for the year that was 2020, humanity’s reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic no doubt had the biggest global impact on lives at both the individual and collective levels.  We have arguably never before had to face such fast nor drastic change to the fundamental operating model of life, had personal choice and freedom so abruptly whisked away, or had to question the meaning and relative importance of our existence as we did that year.  

The seamless coming together of whole nations of people to collaboratively manage the spread and impact of The Virus probably surprised many of us.  What then felt like a world full of individuals at odds in purpose and life practices became billions of people coming together in agreement, for the most part, as to what was commonly important and how to protect it. As a species, our instinct for survival and innate social sensibility was strong.

When upheaval happens to us as suddenly as the response to the pandemic did, we summon our resources and react to cope.  Somehow we stay upright.  There’s no time to question or panic, we just get on with doing what’s required to survive - demonstrating the purposeful focus and resilience that often fail us through chronic suffering or strain. 

However, Covid also shook up our internal compasses and forced at least some of us to put thought to what’s really important in life.  On an individual level, we were sparked into a phase of adjustment and (hopefully) reflection, whether in some small way or perhaps a more life-changing one.   

At the very least, how many of us were surprised that we survived lockdown (1.0, 2.0 and beyond)? Perhaps even enjoyed them? You might have spent some of that time reflecting on what’s important to you; who you are and what you value as a person; how much your identity is defined by your work; whether you are as fit or healthy as you’d like to be; how you cope with change or stress; whether you work too much or could potentially work less; whether you are connected with your family or friends in the ways you’d like to be; how your finances are looking and whether they could be better managed or rearranged; or even the simplicity of finding joy and happiness in the most basic of life’s activities or routines. 

It just so happens that these reflections are crucial to our general functioning, wellbeing and happiness, yet ones we often overlook while we’re caught up with the busy-ness of life.  

Perhaps Covid was Mother Nature’s reminder to humanity to stop and reflect for a moment on ourselves, our lives, goals, priorities, routine actions and behaviours - at home and in business? There is no doubt she gave us plenty of suffering, pain and discomfort. But like all setbacks, adversity and disaster, we can choose to blame this for our undoing or treat it as an opportunity for constructive recalibration. This, in essence, is what we like to call: LifeWork.

LifeWork was launched in 2020 (a year of remarkable events), with the goal of enabling organisations to embrace change as an opportunity rather than a challenge, and to better understand and find ways to support their people as whole humans, for the good of their business and the bottom line.

Whether the conversation is about assessing or developing internal capability, transitioning your business through a period of change, enhancing organisational agility, designing effective people strategies, or preparing to scale, we work collaboratively with Leaders, executive teams, and Boards to bring an objective perspective, assess risk and enable informed and impactful decision making.

We also work one-on-one with individuals to provide insight and a platform for honest and constructive self- and life-reflection, to support their performance and growth, or enable recalibration through important junctions, whether these are chosen or imposed. 

Think of us as an objective extension to complement the in-house expertise offered by your directors, managers and HR teams.

So, this is LifeWork.  Follow us for regular thought-provoking insights and practical wellbeing advice for your own LifeWork practises.