Rising Tides
It's pretty amazing when a successful business happens. When you're working away with the right people at something that matters long enough that an incredible opportunity is created. Well, that was how Breakpoint was started.
In coffee shops, grocery stores, in the park, at the beach, streaming, texting, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tweeting, Microsoft Teams, the list is long and getting longer, people are looking for that same incredible opportunity. They are starving for the right connection. Desperate to work with the right people at something that matters. They are searching for purpose and meaning in their work.
Behavioural science has documented the need for human connection in people. We know from that branch of science that human beings are an ultra-social species and are built expecting to have others around. The research is clear. Human interaction is not only physically beneficial, but also imperative for mental health.
The Corona virus was confirmed to have reached Canada on January 27, 2020, after an individual who had returned to Toronto from Wuhan, Hubei, China, tested positive. The result: a mental health crisis has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly one-third of US adults are suffering from anxiety or depression. The rates are almost two times higher for young adults, a population that has already seen a significant increase in the prevalence of mental health disorders over the past decade. Over 60% of individuals ages 18 to 24 were estimated to be at risk for depression or anxiety. In Canada findings released by Health Canada indicate that about one in five (21%) of Canadian adults aged 18 and older screened positive for at least one of three mental disorders that were assessed: major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those reporting poor mental are up to 4 times more likely to report increased substance use since the pandemic began.
Stay-at-home orders, school closures and social distancing measures have caused major disruptions to everyday life, altering the way people live, work, study, and interact.
The world of work has changed. High performing organizations are integrating social interaction in their work designs. Their operating structures are being designed to promote cultures where people are interacting with one another; where people design rules and systems of working that are aligned to their shared purpose, shared values, matched to the strategic intentions of the organization. These same organizations are engaging thought leadership from health professionals to build a community of care that recognizes their responsibility for the health and well-being of their people. These organizations are making a promise to their people and together embarking on a meaningful journey.
“To survive and even thrive in a changing world, nature offers a great lesson. The survivors are those who at the least adopt to change, or even better learn to benefit from change and grow intellectually and personally. That means careful listening and constant learning.” - Frances Arnold.
When the beginning of 2020 delivered a global pandemic, we put our heads together at Breakpoint to come up with a solution to bridge the gap from strategy to results for organization leaders embracing the current acceleration of change. We called it the Bridges Project.
We believe in the power of the human connection.
AND WE’RE FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE MAKE BUSINESSES GREAT, FOR PEOPLE.