The recent deadly flooding events across QLD and NSW have displaced and devastated large areas and thousands of people with the long road to recovery underway. Having witnessed and assisted those recovering first-hand it made me wonder how does one truly recover and move forward from disaster?
Disaster can come in many forms from a natural disaster like the floods, to a financial disaster. It could be bereavement, the breakdown of a marriage or the loss of a job. To suggest these major life events can be overwhelming would be a staggering understatement – lives can be irrevocably altered. (There is a bright side, I promise. Just keep reading.)
Deb Conradsen, from the Brisbane suburb of Yeronga was flooded to the eaves in 2011 and said a lot of help came from the kindness of family, friends and those in the community. Vouchers from the Salvation Army was helpful, but “The people just rallied around us and gave us stuff like a dining table, and cleaning products. It was incredible.” Australian Red Cross national resilience advisor John Richardson said that whilst the donations of furniture and cleaning products were indeed incredible, it was critical to recognise that it is a very traumatic and stressful experience. “After a disaster people need to gird themselves, both physically and emotionally. There is always the practical side of how to deal with a disaster, but the emotional side is something different altogether. It will be confronting and scary, and that’s OK,” he said.
Community spirit, kindness and volunteering in general will always make a difference. A kind gesture of a cup of coffee, or simply giving someone the time by listening, can make the most profound impact to how someone is coping with what’s happening in their life. Unfortunately, disasters can and do occur in the workplace. Hey, life happens to the best of us. Has a colleague just recovered from surgery, or perhaps navigating a relationship breakdown?
We need to ensure our places of work breed community spirit and kindness. Looking out for one another, whilst respecting privacy and boundaries of course. People who are cared for are more engaged, more empowered, more positive and successful. Here at Optimum Consulting, we are extremely fortunate to enjoy a working environment where kindness, support and generosity is ubiquitous. The place is simply bursting with community spirit.
The recent flood disaster may act as a subtle reminder to ensure all employees in every business, big or small, simply keep an eye/ear out, and check in with one another from time to time. Sometimes disaster can bring people together, it can also be a startling reminder of the fierce human spirit and the power of caring for another. Being grateful for those around you and giving back. Whether it is in the work place, or in your personal life perhaps we could all remember the lyrical goodness of Otis Redding and remember to “Try a little tenderness.”