Cultivating Community During a Crisis
Hillsborough Rose Garden by Zeterre Landscape Architecture
The initial shock of the current pandemic we are enduring has slightly subsided, and we’re beginning to settle into this altered way of living. However, our anxieties about the future and our loved ones’ safety are still present, and it can be challenging to find ways to keep our morale high and our minds at ease. COUPAR has always found great worth in the San Francisco design community. Now its members show unwavering support and empathy for one another both online and off while we Shelter in Place. Providing each of us the hope we need during these unprecedented times.
We are proud to work with our clients, who are all dedicated to keeping their staff safe, healthy, and employed. Valuing employees is always relevant, and now more so than ever. The talented people we work with daily are identifying this as an opportunity to stay unified, not divided. This unification is also evident in the Facebook Group, “Northern California Interior Design Community,” created by Jeff Holt of HEWN. This online group is a forum for designers, architects, artisans, suppliers, and tradespeople. It’s become a safe space for industry professionals to share information and collaborate while in quarantine and is an incredibly beneficial tool in assessing how to best continue forward with business in this current climate.
Knowing how to communicate as a firm professionally while people are suffering on a mass scale, can be complicated. Do I continue promoting my products and services, and if so, how do I do it tactfully? Or do I only address the pandemic? Many questions have come to the forefront, and knowing how to navigate them seamlessly is essential in keeping your doors open and staying authentic.
Social media usage is seeing a 40% increase, so it’s crucial the message you send to these extra sets of eyes isn’t tone-deaf. As we Shelter in Place, it is a moment to dial down your company’s self-promotion, and instead, acknowledge what’s occurring by showing support for others. We are all experiencing this together, and it’s essential to recognize that suffering from COVID-19 varies widely. COUPAR feels fortunate to be headquartered in San Francisco, a city that is progressive in its measures and highly values its residents' livelihood.
It’s essential to understand the current state of your local community and the world; this will help your firm communicate genuinely online during this time. Empathy along with humor is vital. Bring a lightheartedness to your brand's message by sharing a meme or a photo with a more personal caption; this is an excellent chance to connect with colleagues in an honest and vulnerable way. The famous comic, Charlie Chaplin, said, "To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it." Humor and empathy will undoubtedly keep us buoyed as we sail these uncharted waters together.
The COUPAR team is here for you. We can advise on how to best conduct business during these difficult times, whether it's how to work remotely, social media communication, or to discuss this strange new normal. Don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@couparconsulting.com or send us an Instagram DM via @couparconsulting
