Sentari on Leadership: 2024 Predictions + Hot Takes

With plenty of retrospectives written about 2023, a month into the new year, I thought the January 2024 edition of “Sentari on Leadership” should be a bit different. With that, I would like to offer my leadership and business predictions, or rather, “hot takes” for the year. My own thoughts endorsed by no one, I’ve curated the following predictions assembled from recent conversations with C-suite leaders, people managers, and gleanings from articles referenced throughout. Hot takes because you may, or most likely, may not agree with these but I hope they cause you to pause and think about how you’re making this year more valuable, more impactful, and more successful for you and everyone around you.

1. On Worker Happiness – At some point, we started asking too much of the workplace. At some point, we’ve asked work to make us happy. But no one is . While it is true that your work should be fulfilling, that the workplace should provide psychological safety, and of course, should pay you appropriately for the work that you do, it is absolutely not your company’s job to make you happy. I have seen across industries that provide great benefits, pay, perks, and resources and that still isn’t enough for workers to stay engaged and satisfied. Perhaps people are chasing an impossible dream but my prediction is that in 2024, people will realize that your job can’t be everything to you nor can it provide you everything you want/need, that the professional is only part of the equation and taking care of the whole self (a plug for mental health and wellness, of course) will lead to better outcomes rather than obsessing about what your employer (may be trying their best) to give you. And perhaps a perspective shift , might be the first step in finding that happiness.
2. On Management – Given the ever-changing macro dynamics of the business world and companies having to shift strategies and priorities to adjust accordingly, I believe the role of manager will become even more difficult and more complicated this year. Countless articles have been published about the importance and impact of a direct manager and I predict the gravity of managers will be more apparent in 2024. These days, managers are part coach, part therapist, part accountability partner, part disciplinarian, part company translator … the job has become nearly impossible. Captured cheekily by The Predictive Index in this fun video , companies that thrive will need to realize how much more is required of managers and support them in their development and growth. Investing in middle managers through training, coaching, and access to resources to become empathetic leaders will be worth every dollar. In fact, you cannot afford not to do it.
3. On Where Work Happens – If you’ve read my articles, you know my very clear bias: in person work is better. This year, I foresee companies agreeing with me more and understanding that while hybrid is here to stay, the firms that lean more in person will be the ones that win. For reasons I’ve outlined before: collaboration, connection, clarity are all fostered easier when colleagues are physically together, and for this, companies who prioritize this togetherness will go farther, faster. And yes, of course I know the research that says workers are more productive at home. But I also know that work is not about individual productivity, it’s about supporting a collective mission. To solve complex problems, you need camaraderie developed face-to-face, and to develop solutions, you need a team in the room together, putting in the work. Note: not daily, but at least a couple of times a week. I have a rule that all of my 1:1s, all of our department meetings, and all of our executive meetings are in person. It is a rule that has served me well. For leaders, I learned from a great CEO ( Tim O’Neal ) that “visibility breeds credibility” and in today’s work world, that is such valuable currency. For individuals, remember: remote workers are laid off 35% more.
4. On Soft Skills – Last year the World Economic Forum published the most in-demand core skills with a focus on analytical and creative thinking, curiosity, and social influence. With jobs looking less and less like they did decades ago (seriously, have you seen job titles lately?) the ability to have transferable skills that transcend role and industry will be invaluable for the worker and developing these skills in employees will only make companies more competitive. More than any specific technical skillset, learning how to communicate, how to influence a team, how to manage conflict, and how to adapt to any situation should be the top professional development priority of everyone from emerging leader to the C-Suite. Yes, of course know how to read a P&L and how to work Excel, but also learn how to take an initiative from ideation to execution by galvanizing others. My prediction for the most in-demand soft skill this year? Working in ambiguity, managing the grey. So many professionals spiral when the answer isn’t immediately clear or if the answer is “right now, we don’t know.” Learn how to manage when more fact finding is needed, get better at trying instead of being told, and you’ll be a calming presence for your leader and company.
5. On Mental Health – Cheating a bit with this one as it is not a hot take since it is a prediction of mine shared by SHRM , but Mental Health Will Be One of the Biggest Topics of 2024. I have done my Business Case for Mental Health for groups, leaders, and executives since 2021 so while I’ve evangelized the need for companies to prioritize mental health for their employees, this year will be the year more will embrace that while they aren’t responsible for their employee happiness, they should still have a vested interest in it.

Nothing too radical here – I hope this helps you as you shape your people strategy for the rest of the year.

Here’s to a wonderful and successful 2024.

Onward!