2024 – My Word of the Year is Energy

Energy in my work, energising others and being energetic…it feels right for this year for one key reason.
Recently we’ve seen leaders step up time and time again to manage, lead, re-direct, shift and challenge to reach strategic goals set way before Covid stepped into the ring.

How are they coping?

Overall, well, but they are tired. A holiday helps but it’s a short term  solution for a deeper endemic problem. Leadership needs support and clever strategies to reinvigorate and replenish skills, to grow resilience throughout the organisation.

Recently, a mentor of mine reminded me of the 5 pillars of resilience, Self-care, Self-awareness, Positive Relationships, Mindfulness and Purpose. All of these require energy.

I’m noticing that the balance of work I provide across leadership in boards, executive and managers is shifting. More questions about strategic goals, alignment and supporting the executive are occurring.

If your leadership team are asked to take on more in order to keep the business hitting strategic goals, the pressure continues to build and someone needs to take the load. Will your executive move on to another role or can you develop and retain them? The more senior you get the less support, feedback and guidance you tend to receive. Do you need to change the way you work this year? Remember, the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same thing on repeat whilst expecting a different result.

Back to the reason I chose Energy for my word this year. I hear my leaders asking for help to guide their teams through 2024, so I will need perspective, strategy, skill, and humour which all require energy! Bring it on!