We had so many great responses from our staff for the writing prompt we shared two weeks ago, that we had to split the blog into two parts. If you missed Part 1, be sure to check it out and gain a little background on why we chose to do this exercise. For those ready for Part 2, you don’t have to wait a day longer!
Ashleigh
Because of this pandemic, I have learned that we can adapt quickly when necessary.
Many of us have quickly had to adjust to a new way of life—working from home, restricting trips out, adapting to new routines. Brands are no different. Many have quickly had to adjust to a new way of business—delaying launches, reworking messaging, even switching up production. And they’ve done so efficiently and gracefully. As the Social Media Specialist, much of my time is spent deep in Instagram feeds and Facebook pages. On the digital front, I’ve seen brands switch up their typical content on the fly, placing a greater emphasis on engaging the community, spreading positivity, acting as a resource, and offering a much-needed distraction. I hope individuals and brands alike will carry this flexibility with them far past this pandemic.
Coral
Because of this pandemic, I have learned that the key to maintaining some level of normalcy is to be flexible.
At Darby Comm the key right now is to remain flexible and nimble and to take the challenges one day at a time. If we look too far out and try to project the future it induces stress and anxiety. This has been important when managing both our team and our client work. What can we assist with today, what challenges are immediate, these are the questions we are asking our partners and one another. In doing so, we are experiencing a sense of accomplishment and continued pride in our work. I can honestly say I’ve been incredibly impressed and amazed with how agile we’ve become as an agency. Because of that agility, we’ve been able to provide our clients’ assistance and support where they need us the most while simultaneously discovering new strengths that were not as apparent to us before the COVID-19 crisis.
Dan
Because of this pandemic, I have learned that what people seem to want more than anything is a sense of community and togetherness.
We’ve seen a lot happen already that has caused real damage to people’s health and livelihood. There’s palpable anxiety about the virus, the economy, and the state of the nation and the world. But through it all what people seem to want the most is to connect with their loved ones and their neighbors, and to support each other through these rough times. We’ve seen it in the way people have rushed to support local businesses, the way local businesses have stepped up to support healthcare workers, and even in the way people have embraced video calling to keep up with friends and family. It’s ironic that in a time when we all must isolate ourselves from each other, we’re actually finding new ways to come closer together than ever – but that’s what makes me hopeful that we’ll come out the other side stronger and more united.
Katie
Because of this pandemic, I’ve learned to embrace the slower pace.
Slowing down doesn’t come naturally to me. My natural state of being is “GO.” I embody yang energy in full force.
At Darby, we are accustomed to managing several accounts with different areas of focus and varying types of service, from social media management to traditional PR. There are always projects to complete and to-do lists to cross off. Over the past few weeks, our focus has shifted from the usual product launches and event planning to supporting our clients in different ways. During these times of uncertainty, we are taking a step back to see the bigger picture for our brands. We are actively monitoring the best practices for communication during crisis, searching for creative ways to build brand loyalty, and seeking opportunities to help our communities. By slowing our pace in response to crisis, we allow ourselves the time to consider all details, ultimately making us better equipped to handle communication decisions for our clients.
Mandy
Because of this pandemic, I’ve learned that you never stop learning.
Learning that our feelings of stress and uncertainty are valid, but you have to be strong and a model for friends and family (mostly kids). Learning that if I don’t do everything on my list, it’s okay. Learning that positivity is necessary. Learning that human connection is a necessity and when this is over, I won’t take it for granted again. And from learning comes growth, so I’m keeping positive that when we get back to normal, however that looks on the other side of this, we will all come out stronger. Lastly, I’ve learned every single word to every song in Frozen 2.