4 Ways We’re Curating Conversations for the Health of It

by Kara Cook & Heather James

As a firm, Cook & James is known for bringing the fun to the closing table. But we need to be honest: these past weeks and months have not offered much fun.

Social isolation and COVID-19 quarantines wreaked havoc emotionally and economically and we all know people who were affected. As a firm, we were able to course correct and follow best practices set forth by health officials, the CDC and the World Health Organization. We were able to continue serving our clients with curbside closings and we sanitized our offices and various on-the-go workspaces fastidiously.

It wasn’t easy but then the other shoe dropped. Protests erupted worldwide, drawing attention to racial injustice. Cities suffered, including our own Atlanta, and life became even more difficult for all of us.

Everyone’s world has been rocked by the uncertainly of our current times and we here at Cook & James are no different. We want to help, but don’t quite know how. So, we will begin “at home.” We will support our employees and turn to our guiding principles – our Canons – as we always have. We fervently believe that our workplace is a family and families help each other. Thus, we will do what we can to help keep our family safe not only physically, but emotionally. Here are four tangible ways we’re taking first steps “at home.”

#1: EAP Support

We began an Employee Assistance Program in May. We provide support for the mental health and emotional wellbeing for each and every one our employees who seeks it. No questions asked. No need to share personal information – or any information for that matter.

Completely anonymous, the EAP offers our work family the tools to be healthy, not only physically during the uncertain times of pandemic and racial tension, but emotionally. As a firm, we are putting our money and resources where they matter – with our people – because we firmly believe the Buck Stops Here (a Canon which reminds us of our responsibility).

#2: Regular Check-Ins

We purposefully began working with our operations team to develop a schedule so each and every employee has a regular, weekly touch-point with either a peer or a manager. In this manner, we make ourselves a more close-knit, positive group of people. We allow ourselves to be accountable and available to each other. Our casual but resolute calls allow us all to Practice What You Preach, another of our favorite Canons.

These conversational touch points may be nothing more than a quick five-minute check in. Other times, it could be an hour’s heart to heart over a virtual happy hour cocktail. We all remain flexible and open to new ideas and ways of dealing with tough things, because there’s never just any one right way – an echo of another of our favorite Canons: There’s More Than One Way to Skin A Cat.

#3: Book Discussions

There are so many rich and thoughtful texts circulating that we formalized a C&J Book Club. And this isn’t just for champion readers like Heather (nod to her reading prowess) because these monthly discussions are meant to spark conversation, generate questions, share ideas and get us all thinking outside the proverbial box. You don’t even really have to read the book to participate in these discussions; but we DO ask that you have viewpoints and be willing to speak up.

In the interest of curating conversation with friends, we don’t limit this to only official Cook & James employees…if you’d like to join us, shoot us a note at info@CookandJames.com or call us and we’ll share details so you can connect with us in this way.

Ongoing, Productive Talks

We have always consulted experts to learn about topics in which we might not be so well versed and now is no different.

We are actively seeking out resources from professionals, counselors, and those who have gathered best practices for discussing difficult topics, like unfamiliar emotions and uncomfortable subjects. Racial injustice is real and people – including many of our own employees – are reeling and want to find a way forward.

In the midst of all of the heartache, anxiety and fear we want to continue to be authentic to our Cook & James brand, so we will continue to inject our trademark positive, light-hearted tone and you’ll find our good natured, quirky humor on social media and in person. We believe that, even in dark and stressful times, everyone can benefit from a little levity.

The story is not over. We have hope that, with productive communication and kind hearts, we can all work toward a brighter future.