2021 Year in Review - back by popular demand!
Anneli Blundell CSP (She/Her)
Helping people get heard at work | Speaker | Author | Communication Dynamics Expert
Here we are again. Another year done and dusted and it’s time for my annual Year in Review.?
A time to reflect on the year that was, celebrate hard work, and send dopamine signals to the brain so it knows how to repeat the successes (yes, that’s why we celebrate our achievements – it’s not about bragging - it’s about brain science ?? ).
The acknowledgement
Given that I’ve been in lockdown for 40 years, (yes, I’m from Melbourne), I’m fascinated by how tired I find myself at the end of this year. It’s not like I’ve been on a plane every week, or travelling to and from the city each day, like the pre-pandemic days. Quite the contrary. I’ve had 3 live gigs in 18 months! The rest has been online engagements.
And yet, despite the pace of my life slowing down considerably (to a pace I much prefer, and will fervently attempt to protect henceforth), I still feel done. Spent. Kaput.?
And I know I’m not alone. Many of my clients are feeling the same... Perhaps you are too.
So, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that we made it through another strange year. Not quite normal and not quite new. We’re still finding our feet, and yet we are still standing upright. Bravo to us!
The reflection
2020 challenged us to think about how we lived our lives, what we accepted as normal, and what was really important to us.?
2021 has extended the challenge further. Have we really created a new normal yet? Have we truly broken old habits??And is this really what we want for our lives?
In 2021 I learnt some important things:
1/ I’m more interested in who I’m with than where we are going, or what we are doing. Meaningful connections with other people has truly been the cream that’s risen to the top.
2/ I’m noticing and appreciating the little things. Plants, flowers, nature. The smell of the air after the rain, the warmth of the sun on my skin. I know they have always been there, but this year they have felt more important. And I feel lucky to appreciate them.
3/ I am more flexible and adaptable (dare I say, truly agile?) with plans for my life, my work, and definitely my holidays (You had holidays Anneli? ….Nope. Not really.)
4/ Virtual trainings, facilitations and presentations can be just as good as the live ones… if you do them right. (FYI - it’s not about the equipment, it’s about the engagement.)
5/ I’m less scared of grey hair than I used to be, and I wonder if I will ever wear heels again. Am I finally old enough to wear sensible shoes and embrace comfort over conformity, all the time? Watch this space…???
6/ The lockdown pace suits me. I am an introvert. I love people (they are my business after all) and yet, I still need lots of time to recharge my batteries. I like to read, and reflect, and ruminate on things. And, to create my best work, I need space – mental, physical, and emotional. As such, I’m going to experiment with a new intention for 2022. My aim is to stay available to my clients’ needs, whilst protecting my ideal working conditions.?
My new intention for hybrid work at Team AB:
What stays virtual –?
?????(Note: modular, online training programs have produced outstanding?behaviour change results this year, which is an especially convenient and?cost-effective way of training for my national clients. They have also delivered?the added bonus of building cross-functional relationships and breaking down?company silos.)?
What stays face-to-face –?
There are no hard and fast rules here, but as a guide, this is a pretty solid start. I feel more assured that I can balance a sense of calm and creativity with client connection and collaboration.
Fingers crossed!
The recap
From a business perspective, 2021 was a year of creation. Alongside the ever-present delivery of keynote speaking, coaching, facilitation, podcast interviews, etc (see pics below), this year we have added 3 new programs. And we LOVE them! We hope you do too.
1. Coaching conversations – 10-month modularized program to help leaders bring out the best in their people, build accountability and accelerate productivity.
Fun fact: Did you know people are 5 times more committed to their own ideas? If we?want people to take accountability, responsibility, and deliver on their commitments,?building coaching skills is a great start.
2. Core communication – an effective communication program to help technical leaders and experts, communicate the right message, in the right way, at the right time, for maximum impact.?
Fun fact: The LinkedIn Workforce report of 2018 found that the top skills gap for recruitment was oral communication. And, in research done by the Communication consultancy Duarte in 2021, they found that simplifying and clarifying ideas was rated the most important skill required for the performance of their organisation, when working online. Time to invest in some upskilling? Good idea???
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3. Sponsorship success – Gender equity mentoring for executive teams, and male leaders, on how to create an inclusive culture that supports women to succeed. Only available to select executive teams based on their demonstrated commitment to gender equality.
Fun fact: 96%?of companies see improvement in diversity initiatives when?men?are deliberately engaged, as opposed to?30%?when they are not. If your organisation is truly committed to challenging the status quo, this program is for you.
Please note, these programs are so hot off the press, the ink on the marketing material is still drying, so if you’re interested to know more, contact me directly.
And of course, no recap would be complete without mentioning… the awards! ??
In case you missed my earlier emails, social media posts, and personal announcements, then let me recap the exciting news… (after all, what’s the point of winning incredible awards if every man, woman, and child doesn’t know about them? ?? )
Winner:
*This is the Australian Institute of Training and Development’s highest individual accolade.
~The Stevie’s attract over 12,000 entrants across 70 countries each year – yep. They are a big deal.??
Finalist (For the Women@Work programs):
BONUS:?If you want to know my biggest training fail, or why the editor said, ‘Your answer to the zombie question made me snort out loud!!’ then check out the profile piece in this month’s Training and Development magazine from AITD. It’s a subscription only magazine but I have a special release copy here . (This article originally appeared in Training & Development magazine, December 2021 Vol. 48 No. 4, published by the Australian Institute of Training and Development.)
The request
And to finish, I have a special request…
We’ve all been through a lot over the last few years.?
Let’s take extra care with each other over this holiday season.
We need to rest, reset and refuel our tanks.?
My hope is that we use this time to remember what’s most important to us; to be clear on how we want to shape our future; and to be even more of who we were born to be, for ourselves and for those we love and lead.
Happy Holidays everyone!
P.S. Our office will be closed from Friday 17th December, and will re-open on Monday 10th January. As always, we will be booking client work from February onwards, and also as always, the diary is already filling up for Q1, so reach out early if we can help you.
P.P.S. If you want to give a beautiful gift AND do some good in the world, then consider shopping at https://www.generation414.com/. One hundred percent of their profits go towards global anti-slavery efforts and supporting girls who are victims of human trafficking.?Plus, their stuff is great and reasonably priced – it’s a win/win. (Thank you Holly for the suggestion.)