Looking forward

As we find ourselves stuck in the present and willing on better times, we wanted to reflect on what the future may look like and how we can learn from what is happening now. Like many other companies, the Livitay team are trying to plan and best predict what kind of state the world and our industry will evolve into over the coming months. The answer is we don’t know, but we are hopeful. Let us explain why

Remind us of what matters

2020 has been a tumultuous year, to say the least. For many, it has forced us to stop and take a step back. And gain some perspective. 2020, for myself and the Livitay team, has made us stop and take a deep breath. It has reminded me personally of who really matters in my life and why I need to devote more time to these people. We have called friends we haven't spoken to in years, hugged our family members tighter and bonded with colleagues. At the end of the day, we realised that it is the people around us that matter most.

So when we look forward, what do we see? We are hopeful we see more of the same. A world where companies continue to realise the value and importance of their incredible people. Where teams care for their individuals and individuals care about their teams. People are considered the most valuable resource to a company and so we continue to care about how they feel and operate day to day. It is the companies that have put their people first during these times that have continued to thrive and only through this empathetic approach will we see the change continued for good.

A place to be open

2020 has forced us to be vulnerable. To be open. We have spoken to each other in open and honest ways about the way we are feeling because we have to. In day to day life, we are able to hide and cover up our emotions but as we go through the toughest collective experience of a generation, we are forced to share, as this is the only way we can get through it. It seems obvious that we will share our feelings and emotions with friends and family, especially when working from home. However, sometimes it can be difficult for families to understand the stresses and issues of working life and so it becomes colleagues and teams that people choose to speak to.

As those lunchtime catch-ups and water-cooler moments were forced away, we have seen companies create new spaces for individuals to share how they’re feeling. Whether it is open Coffee zoom links, or Friday night quizzes or simply asking people to share how they are getting on in a 1–1 or team meeting. We mustn't underestimate the power of creating an opportunity to be vulnerable. By doing so we create this unspoken social agreement that “this is ok” and “you won’t be judged here” which quickly reverberates throughout an organisation’s culture. Creating a space to be open will breathe life into vulnerable experiences within individuals and teams. So what do we see moving forward? Hopefully more of the same.

Hopeful

Maybe this is just me, or the Livitay team. But we are hopeful. Why? Because we have faith that people are awesome. Despite the depressing media headlines and terrifying statistics, we have seen families, towns, cities and countries band together behind one common cause. We are hopeful because a 100-year-old war veteran raised £32 million for the NHS 🤯 and we have seen mental health come to the forefront of the agenda within companies like never before.

We are hopeful because our carers never gave up and when a black man is murdered, the world stands up for what is right. Although things are tough, we are confident that everyone can make the world a little bit of a better place.