Compassion and difficult decisions...

The headlines in 2020 have been dramatic, sad, worrying and downbeat. They have, rightly, focussed on the chaos, upheaval and drama that has surrounded our politics and economics. This is the way of the media.

The way of politicians and other leaders has it, seems, to have tried to deflect, focus on optimism and to over use a phrase 'sunlit uplands'. Of course, politicians and business leaders want to shift the conversation and give hope, that is human, but what is often forgotten in any change is those left behind, affected by the change. There are always winners and losers.

In most change, the losers, eg those left without roles, are often cut adrift, at best ignored and forgotten, those lucky enough to survive very rarely feel positive or it can take months even years for them to regain motivation and productivity. I have worked in many organisations over the years and, despite, documented approaches to change, redundancy and reorganisation, this fails because of a lack of compassion. It is obvious to those affected by that change but rarely to leaders who are responsible for the changes. As we know from most corporate change, leaders have been thinking about the change for some months before implementing those changes, so are often thinking about the next thing and not the immediate impact.

Like many organisations, mine is not alone in having made some changes this year. What has struck me the is the way in which many of those have reacted and behaved. They have been professional, reasonable and helpful during a period of great uncertainty and I am assuming personal upheaval. Also all colleagues have rallied round with solidarity, support and care. Hopefully, this reflects our culture, values and ways of working but in no small measure to those colleagues who through no fault of their own have been affected by the economic and technology shifts that we are subject to.

I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to these named colleagues and so many more. I wish you a peaceful Christmas and good luck for the New Year. @Marc Crouch @Steph Tapner @Neil Humphrey @Luke Stone @Sean Morecroft @Sharan Mundy @Clare Downing @Mandy Carr