wellbeing

Life is too short. Life is too short for getting stressed out by things you can’t control. Life’s too short to get wound up over things that haven’t happened or even about those that have. Life’s too short. I never thought I’d be one to meditate but I am mightily pleased to be wrong about that. I’m exactly the type of person who needs to meditate. I was a competitive sportsman back in the day, I’m ambitious, I put a lot of pressure on myself, and I’m approaching a time in my life where I feel I should be achieving specific milestones. Does this sound like anyone you know? The way I used to work: Things would heat up so I’d work harder, work longer hours, take on more with little regard for my own well being. To relax I’d indulge in a few drinks, eat whatever whenever, not sleep much or well. Essentially I’d burn the candles at both ends to help escape the daily grind. Unsurprisingly I’d be tired, I’d be on edge, I’d over-think things and exacerbate problems. I’d feel anxious and distance myself from the people I care about – the very people who support you when it matters most. And ‘round the cycle goes. Unfortunately this describes a lot of people we all know. There were big changes brewing in my life. In taking on a new role as a Senior Partner I would be uprooting my family from Singapore to Melbourne; a city I had never lived in, to work at a Startup no one knew of. It was a big challenge, it was going to take some organising and it came with many layers of built in stress. So I did something about it. I started by asking for advice. I listened to a colleague’s advice about Life Being Too Short. About how your health and your family are the most important things in your life. That your work should be something you enjoy doing because you’re good at it, because you have purpose and direction; and because it integrates with the other important things in your life; giving you the best of both. And if life doesn’t give you that, you’ve got to find a way to make it so. Obviously it was recommended that I meditate; mindful meditation to be exact. Five minutes a day they said. I could do that. I downloaded an app and haven’t looked back. I imagined it might be harder or stranger than it actually was. It’s not about letting your mind go blank, it’s actually about focusing your mind on one particular sensation for a short amount of time. The skills I learnt from this are pretty powerful, and self perpetuating. You find you automatically start feeling more centered with better clarity of mind and a natural inclination to take better care of yourself. You want to be better all round and as a bonus, you actually get to be better at what you do. There’s an effortlessness about it. Five minutes have became fifteen minutes which lead me to another Mindfulness platform with longer sessions, and interesting workshops and talks to consider. I am more focused. I am relaxed, I am happier, I am more effective. It hasn’t altered my goals, ambitions or drive, they’re still the same, but it has helped me achieve them with more clarity of thought, accuracy of execution, and confidence. I’d be really interested to hear how meditation has helped you in your life. Feel free to share. Give more, get more. Join me on LinkedIn . Or contact me: ✉️ mrichardson@morganconsulting.com.au 📱 0421 800 956

Morgan Consulting fundraises for Polished Man

At Morgan Consulting , we take environmental responsibility seriously. This is why we’ve partnered with Greenfleet, a leading environmental non-profit organisation and Australia’s most trusted source of biodiverse carbon offsets to take practical climate action. “At Greenfleet, we are restoring native forests and growing climate hope thanks to the contributions of our amazing supporters, just like Morgan Consulting,” said Wayne Wescott, CEO of Greenfleet. “Year after year, individuals and organisations help Greenfleet plant more biodiverse native forests to capture carbon emissions and it’s their continuous support which makes a tangible and positive difference to the environment,” added Mr Wescott. Every year, Morgan Consulting offsets the carbon emissions of its company fleet by planting native forests around Australia with Greenfleet. “By partnering with Greenfleet, we are confident that our climate action provides genuine and lasting environmental benefits,” said Marc Richardson , Managing Director. “We are proud of the impact we’re making. By offsetting our emissions with Greenfleet, we are taking practical action against climate change and helping to restore Australia’s forests, recreate crucial habitat for native wildlife and transform degraded land back to its natural state.” You too can take real climate action, visit www.greenfleet.org.au to get started.

Last Thursday was R U OK? Day. On Thursday, our team gathered in the office and virtually to check in with each other. It has been an imperfect world these past couple of years… it’s been tough. Today we are talking about how we can encourage everyone to ask, ‘R U OK?’ whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life. In the workplace, we all have the opportunity to play an active role in suicide prevention. We all have a responsibility to help our people feel safe and supported. As part of our commitment to each other’s wellbeing , we’re championing the 'R U OK?' message at Morgan Consulting . As employers or staff, we can all create a culture where people feel confident asking and answering this simple yet important question. Besides providing a safe and healthy workplace, these conversations can make a real difference to staff going through a tough time. Research shows that a strong sense of community and belonging, like in the workplace, are protective factors against suicide. We need to make staying connected and asking, 'R U OK?' a part of our every day. For more conversation tips, visit ruok.org.au For R U OK? Da y we added a splash of colour at Morgan... a touch of yellow... to our office and to ourselves.

This article originally appeared on the RCSA website and has been reproduced in part with their permission. The full article can be viewed here . When the global pandemic struck Australian shores, it gave many businesses like 25-year-old recruitment agency Morgan Consulting an opportunity to reflect on how their business operated. From working at home to hybrid working arrangements, it soon became apparent as COVID restrictions eased that the five-day week was at risk of becoming antiquated. Morgan Consulting, which has offices in Melbourne CBD, Sydney and Scoresby , learnt a lot from working through the pandemic and decided to forge a new path – introducing a work four days, get paid for five model. What began as a formal trial has quickly been adopted as the company’s work model. Speaking to The Brief, Morgan Consulting Managing Director Marc Richardson and CEO Andrew Aston spoke about their company’s refreshed approach to the work week and revealed how staff have reacted to the new, unmandated work model. “We came out of the COVID lockdowns with some very clear opportunities for change; so, we used it as an opening to not only refresh our business brand and technology but also started to think what the ideal recruitment agency would look like,” Andrew said. As part of the company’s mental health initiatives during the peak of the pandemic, reduced work days were offered to staff, an offer Andrew said was well received. When the office was in full operation again, being paid for Friday but taking the day off, was offered as an option for staff – with no strings attached. “I think today people are looking for greater integration between life and work, so before we implemented the four-day work week we looked at different business models in Australia and overseas,” Marc said. “Research tells us working four days and getting paid for five actually led to an increase in productivity.” Even though a long weekend is now an option, not everyone has signed up to the idea. Marc said this wasn’t a surprise. “You’re always going to get people who will work five days a week and that’s the way they like it. Our approach is not a mandatory requirement,” he said. “The key to our methodology is an option and our staff have a choice on how they want to utilise their Friday as they wish.” Andrew echoed Marc’s sentiments. “We allow our staff to plot their own course – it’s a choice and they have really risen to occasion,” Andrew said. “They feel empowered and feel trusted to be able to position the hours however they want.” While introducing flexible Fridays has been an overwhelming success for the Morgan Consulting team , there were a few wrinkles to iron out. “When we first started doing this, there were things that we didn’t think about and naturally it came to the surface – not really challenges or issues but things we had to work through,” Marc said. “For instance, if you are taking annual leave – a week is five days not four days per se.” When asked whether they would recommend the work four, paid five model to other businesses, the duo acknowledge ‘it may not work for everyone’. “It worked for us because we are an outcomes focused business,” Marc said. “In my opinion, a four-day week is not suitable for every business. It will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; but I think it’s certainly worth reviewing if it will suit your business model and staff.”

With International LGBT Pride Day today, our awesome recruitment consultant, Jareth Richardson, penned this post, 'What are Pronouns?'