Wellbeing is a Practice,
Not a Program
Sociology, psychology, and our own personal experiences all point to the same notion:
wellbeing isn’t a thing you do, but a way you live.
In order to design mentally-healthy workplace cultures where creatives can thrive, we need to go beyond offering surface-level programs that only address the symptoms.
We need to acknowledge the issues, question their roots, and commit to integrating healthier, more sustainable practices at every level .
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Our Philosophy
We believe that there are three key levels for holistic culture change, and that they all need to work together in order to make a tangible impact.
1 / Individuals
Emotional Development
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Inner Resourcing
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Cultivating the space and capacity to navigate challenging emotions by learning how to set + uphold boundaries, objectively process feedback, practice self-awareness and empathy, and prioritize downtime.
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Identifying and embracing strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses; creating opportunities to stretch skills, curiosities, and creativity; celebrating the small, everyday moments of joy and progress.
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Finding and connecting with the parts of the work that are personally meaningful and fulfilling; recognizing how those efforts are making a difference toward achieving a greater goal.
2 / Organizations
Cultural + Leadership Behavior Change
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Establishing processes for direct, compassionate, and trauma-informed communications; supporting individuals’ boundaries by protecting personal time; upholding company values through responsible and accountable actions; ensuring everyone understands of what’s expected of them and what they can expect of others.
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Structuring teams and training leaders to foster environments of curiosity, psychological bravery, self-agency, esteem, and open-expression to build trust and connection among colleagues.
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Providing equitable access to emotional, financial, personal, and professional trainings (including Mental Health First Aid certification), resources, and policies that acknowledge the diverse backgrounds and needs of individuals within your agency or company.
3 / Industry-wide
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Moving from hourly to value-based fee structures to prioritize outcomes over inputs; requiring clients to pay for pitches and spec creative; building equitable recruiting and hiring practices; aligning on joint standards for fair employee wages and healthier working hours.
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Establishing clear and consistent processes, criteria, benchmarks, and next-steps for evaluating progress toward BOTH/AND cultures within individual organizations, parent companies, and the creative industry at large.
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Openly sharing knowledge, resources, partnerships, challenges, and problem-solving opportunities with others in the industry, allowing creativity to flourish both within, and across, our agencies.