The beauty of year end

Have you ever got the feeling that the best what happens in the year is when it come to an end?

For majority of the leaders, the answer Will be YES. Either, they will celebrate the good results of the years or are starting to feel relief for all the pressure that they have in their shoulders on the last 12 months. Or maybe both. Success and relief.

2022 was the first year after pandemic times where we experience a return of many activities. And was not an easy year either and pandemic still around. We still debating what hybrid work means. It was the buzzword on the first quarter and I’m in doubt if we have that clear yet. I mean, are we really taking people in consideration to build hybrid or just splitting days at work/home.

2022 was not a calm year. It starts with Ukraine invasion with no signs to end. Inflation hit high levels and are affecting purchasing power in many countries. Talent wars still on top of business leaders heads and we are embracing for a energy crisis that will require massive CAPEX investments across the globe?

It isn’t that beauty?

You may think I’m crazy, but I like to see how much I learn in this year, and expect you see your learnings as well. Life is about advancement and I’m pretty sure, you as a leader knows better now than the year beginning.

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”?—Confucius?

This year was also a year where Sustainability, Climate Change and Transformation took a large stage, even if I still believing that we haven't really tackle the challenges for humanity. And if you want to understand the severity of the situation, check this world clock.

We need as per today at the pace of resources consumption 1,82 Planet Earth to continue our existence in this world. And in the next 8 years if we continue this pace, we will need a second home. There is no Planet B!

Check yourself in this link if you want to https://www.theworldcounts.com/economies/global/effects-of-consumerism

Home working has gave us an opportunity to speed up technology and review our habits. Other changes were also forced into our life. And be pretty sure, more are on the way.

What I can easily foresee in 2023 and that is my only humble view based on what I read, talk and discuss with other leaders, that leaders will face a massive change.

Leaders must reinvent their role in the company, as no longer hierarchy became a stand for success. The middle managers as squeezed in the role with homework, lost on how to manage. And the C-Level will face some of those challenges:

• Chief Technology: rise of new technologies to support new ways of work against legacy systems. Expect to spend decent time on fake news. Cybersecurity.
• Chief Sales: new consumer behaviors are on the rise. Inflation is pushing families to the secondhand market and delaying buying decisions.
• Chief Operations: supply chain disruptions will continue. Keep an eye on geopolitical threads if you operate globally.
• Chief Financial: focus is shifting to short cash expenditures and dealing with long term strategies. Short-termism has a strong pushback due to ESG/Sustainability agenda.
• Chief HR: prepare your company to more frequent turnover. New generations will be changing jobs every 1,5 years. Set your strategy to help them.

?And I can continue in the multiple names other C-Level positions that exist. My point is not to give you a guidance on what to do. It’s to highlight that next year, and all years ahead, CHANGE will push your organisation to the edge.

For me that is the beauty of continuous improvement, advancement, and curiosity. As leader, the worst you can do is accept that you have a comfortable position. ?

Leaders are in the business of making decisions. That is your main responsibility.

And you can’t do it alone.

A couple years ago, the word Transformation was in the mainstream media as the push from digital transformation was in every CEOs mouth. The word transformation remains important, but with a sense of purpose and Care.

This are my 2023 words. PURPOSE & CARE.

The year will be driven by leaders that has a full and authentically purpose on their existence, for them they work, and which impact they create. It’s more about them than you. And at the same time they really take care of their people, suppliers, partners, shareholders, society and community they are engage. They take care of the Planet.

Leadership is moving from direction, to servant to transcendental, where your role is to be the major change agent on every peoples life you impact directly.

As you probably know from my articles, I like to challenge your status quo to make you a better person. That is my duty, and I will in 2023 continue writing to you, to make you feel uncomfortable. I hope you like and would love to get into your minds to further discuss topics, because talking about things we normally don’t agree is the best way to learn something new.

Get ready for your 2023 and make it a beautiful year. Again.

Wish you all the best and good celebrations with your love ones.