2019 - a year in reflection.

“We write to make sense of it all.” – Wallace Stegner.

I love his words; always have.

He says things better than, pretty much anyone else, so as I look back on 2019 and the workplace, his themes have become my guide.

 “Ambition is a path, not a destination, and it is essentially the same path for everybody.” – W.S.

This year, I made my 10-year, work anniversary. I never worked a decade for the same company before, ever. I celebrated it with colleagues on both sides of a pond, made the odd speech, was totally floored by the gifts/cards, people’s kind words, so along with delivering my keynote presentation #unapologeticambition, I figured the milestone was acknowledged in style. And best of all, I’m grateful, I learned so much along the way.

“If you’re going to get old, you might as well get as old as you can get.” – W.S.

Well being, as a topic in our workplace and society has got some real airtime in 2019, thankfully so. More and more businesses are placing honest to God, importance on wellness initiatives from the way they run meetings and communicate to inspiring colleagues with activities or simply, encouraging everyone to TALK about it. It’s on the radar and it’s here to stay – in that it’s been a great year, although we always have more to do. All of us, can and should ambassador this for ourselves and others, shamelessly.

“Well, there's so much to read, and I'm so far behind.” – W.S.

Self-development, learning and mentoring continues to thrive, and positivity has gathered company all its own in this area. People are devoted to pod casts, books, TED Talks, are signing up to financial well being seminars and LOVING taking responsibility for their own development. Long, may that continue. There’s always more to learn and as someone who started his career in L & D (and buys thousands of books, monthly) I love how exciting colleagues find this. Let 2020 continue to light the L & D way.

“Be proud of every scar on your heart, each one holds a lifetime’s worth of lessons.” – W.S.

I live in a world (in my head) and work for a company where diversity is cherished and celebrated. I carry that with me. I know, not everyone can say the same, but focusing on a half FULL glass: the lens has widened in 2019 such as a number of high profile studies demonstrating how D & I contribute to a company’s success, trailblazers for D & I are regularly profiled and their platforms heightened and as more businesses aim for globalization, D & I activities will not able to be isolated but run in tandem across an organisation, across the world. An inclusive culture is increasingly, no longer the aspiration but the reality and the rewards of it, continue to rock.

“The brook would lose its songs if we removed the rocks.” – W.S.

Is it me or did the world get more complicated? Louder? More challenging?

Pretty much, yes and in the field of recruitment, precious candidates become even MORE precious because of a host of things, political and economic as this world of ours continues to evolve. Again, with a half full glass, there’s a part of me, that likes this because when the stakes are higher, when the problems become a tad more difficult to solve, human nature says the success is even sweeter. We’ll never live in a world without problems, anywhere BUT through these tricky times, I’ve continued to work with the most impeccable people who weather the storm and maintain their problem-solving extraordinaire skills. Doesn’t get more inspirational than that, IMO. So maybe there’s something good in goal posts being moved every now and again?

“There is no way to step off the treadmill. It is all treadmill.” – W.S.

I’ve had the great fortune to interview for some high-profile roles this year. I loved it, because it allowed me to roll my sleeves up, create brand new interview frameworks and questions, but the brilliance of it all, came from the candidates. People who displayed a creative resilience and hunger to keep ON the treadmill, able to celebrate their own professional achievements and assert “I still have more to do!” Doesn’t get better than that – the hard work ethic, the passion and relentless zeal to innovate in the business world, is beyond reassuring, so I thank and applaud the people I’ve met this year. You have so much to be proud of, and clearly more to do – and you wouldn’t have it any other way!

“There is a sense in which we are all each other's consequences.” – W.S.

As customers, candidates and colleagues, we’re all headed on a course of wanting/needing more, better, different. I’ve certainly seen this in evidence this year. And I’m very OK with this! We should be “demanding” as customers, we work hard for our money, and these days many things are a considered purchase so we should expect paramount service. This has evolved into my business of “candidates” and again, I really LOVE the fact that the candidate market today, is driven by people who want the best, for themselves and are interviewing, you AS much as you’re interviewing them. It’s the way of the world now and it shows no signs of slowing down in the forthcoming year – the cycle of people, their expectations (& demands) and I’m looking forward to seeing how this trend, evolves.

 “Creation is a knack which is empowered by practice, and like almost any skill, it is lost if you don’t practice it.” – W.S.

I hear the phrase “fail fast” a lot these days. I like it, but what it’s about sometimes gets lost IMO. When I hear it, I’m reminded of the importance of inventing, delivering, at pace – innovating. Once more 2019, really seems to have opened its arms to the inherent importance of “innovation” in every area – this must continue. For us all, in business and in life. “Fail fast” implies that one learns quickly, which is cool but don’t overestimate or short-change, “creativity” - keep it close and bring it out, daily in 2020.

“Faith can reclaim deserts as well as move mountains.” – W.S.

Faith can be what you want it to be and no one should tell you otherwise. In 2019, 2020 and the world of work – my faith is in people.

People make the difference in business. In any business. Do we keep that at the forefront of our heads as leaders, as colleagues? You’d like to think so, but there’s time and room to do better, in terms of conversations, listening, validation and recognizing brilliant work, in whatever form it is. Faith IN people, will be reciprocated which is fundamental, as we know life and “business” is poised for another exciting, tricky year where we’ll all need and want to do better. Doing better, will make us better, as individuals and teams.

For everything 2019 has brought, I’m grateful (maybe, in need of time off ??) and moving forward… so here’s to life.

For all of us.