NZ disaster experts release free resources for business leaders dealing with lockdown impacts
As Kiwi businesses grapple with Lockdown and the country moves into the third week of the Delta outbreak, leading NZ
disaster experts have channelled their extensive global experience into creating and launching a free Pandemic Pack - to
help people care for their mental health and work towards post-traumatic growth.
Developed by Hummingly, the pack is a set of downloadable digital cards that have so far been downloaded more than 2000 times, by people who
are part of an emerging wave of business leaders, workers and individuals seeking assistance in moving forward with
resilience and achieving post-traumatic growth.
Hummingly, founded by cognitive scientist Jolie Wills and disaster expert Elizabeth McNaughton, works with international
organisations like Red Cross, the Victorian government, (and closer to home) Ravensdown. They help people build
resilience and recover from disasters including the Australian bush fires, the Christchurch earthquakes, the Boxing Day
tsunami, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jolie Wills says it's entirely normal for people to feel like the Delta outbreak is a big setback, particularly after
New Zealand had experienced a relatively normal way of life during the last 12 months. She says there is a common
pattern to what people experience in the wake of disaster and we are seeing this pattern play out as we would expect.
"Initially, there's a sense of unity, a collective outpouring of support and energy. Then, for many, a sense of fatigue
and disillusionment takes over. Coming out the other side from mass disruption like this always takes longer and is
harder than people first expect. However, we also know from experience (and the research shows this) that most people
will grow from these types of difficult events".
Jolie says this growth doesn't downplay the pain or hardship people go through - but says most people will experience
growth, even if it's a difficult thing to anticipate or talk about. For leaders in particular, having the right tools
and knowledge at hand makes all the difference, she says.
"As a leader yourself, you can expect to lose perspective and become fatigued at some point – that's the nature of
prolonged stress - so using tools like our Pandemic Pack and Pandemic Parcel for leaders can sustain yourself and your
support to your team,” she says.
"Post-traumatic growth is like wisdom learned from the toughest of times”.
“It can be even harder for businesses and leaders trying to help their teams and staff through the pandemic - and there
is a fine line between growth and damage,”
Hummingly's Pandemic Pack is available to download for free here. Businesses can also purchase the Pandemic Parcel here and access a range of resources for themselves and their teams.About Hummingly:
Established by Jolie Wills and Elizabeth McNaughton, Hummingly ensures everyone has access to the world's best advice in the toughest of times. Both founders worked in disasters
worldwide for more than two decades before realising helping one person, one community, one disaster at a time, was no
longer enough. They have since created easy to use products that people, communities, and workplaces the world over can
access to do well in tough times. You can find out more at www.hummingly.co.