For most of us, 2022 is now a blur. The crawling pace of recovery from Covid, the limping back of the economy and the workplace dynamics changing have all impacted us. So how do we ensure that we remember the lessons and imbibe them well, so that we can attract goodwill, good health and success in 2023? Cited below are ways in which you will blaze your own path and get noticed as a leader of substance.
- You embrace the hybrid culture. Work from home became the norm for two years and towards the end of 2022, and many people still prefer doing that. A recent poll by Partners In Leadership, a pathbreaking consulting firm focused on leadership training and development, confirms that when employees are happier at work, 85 per cent say they take more initiative; 73 per cent say they are better collaborators; and 48 per cent care more about their work. Effective leaders who understand the correlation between higher levels of engagement, happiness, and productivity facilitate movement in the right direction – and have people feel good about it. Understanding and helping colleagues and teams be happier will impact their efficiency positively even in this hybrid scenario. As a business leader who stands up for this hybrid flexibility, you will invite higher loyalty and an increase in team output with your support.
- You will focus on health. If business leaders have learnt something concretely, it is to value their own health, the health of their employees and their families. So many business leaders have become fitter, talked about getting healthy and become compassionate towards employee and employee family health. As someone who is rising up the ladder, you want to be the epitome of good health so that your team and your organisation can learn from your vision. You want stamina and you want to exhibit the stamina to your superiors so that they have the confidence that you can take the work pressure and deliver well. Your juniors will look up to you for this and get inspired to get healthier themselves. Staying healthy then must become top priority so that you can seize opportunities more efficiently.
- You will talk about mental health. In October 2021, Apple CEO Tim Cook is quoted to have said that mental health is a “crisis” and was stigmatised too much. In 2022, mental health came to the forefront due to top leaders openly talking about it. In 2023, emerging leaders who talk about mental health openly and support mental health initiatives will be looked up to and appreciated. If you want to be seen as a compassionate leader, equip yourself with sensitivities around mental health and make the right noises as well as have a deeper commitment towards your colleagues’ and teams’ moods and struggles with mental health. Push your organisation to concretise support for mental health initiatives within the company so that people do not hesitate to speak up about their mental health issues. This of course, will lead to better harmony and more conducive teamwork leading to higher productivity.
- You will sensitise others about inclusivity. As per Harvard Business Review analysis, there are very few leaders who have an inclusive communication style. And leaders who talk about inclusion in the organisation, stand out and get noticed. Inclusivity in organisations it not just about gender equality. It is about giving equal opportunities to all genders as well as differently abled people. In 2022, there was a lot of conversation around this and leaders who carry this to create concrete steps about inclusivity in 2023 will truly be looked up to.
- You will persuade your organisation towards sustainable initiatives. “We cannot choose between (economic) growth and sustainability – we must have both,” said Paul Polman, Dutch businessman and spearhead of sustainability initiatives. As CEO of Unilever (2009-2018), he set a bold vision to decouple the company’s growth from the overall environmental footprint and increase its positive social impact through the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. In July 2019, Polman began Imagine to help combat poverty and climate change. This concern for our planet will continue from 2022 to 2023. Any emerging or business leader who talks about the health of the planet as connected with the health of human beings will be seen as a forward-looking visionary. Policies like incorporating solar power to take care of your companies electricity bills, a no-plastic policy and helping employees to take concrete greener initiatives will make you the beacon of light for your bosses.
The above five are not just trends. They impact people, organisations and our planet positively. And at the heart of a true business leader is compassion towards all. Walk confidently towards 2023 with the vision of implementing these five and you will walk towards positive growth, success and the promise of love and loyalty from those who work with you.
Columnist
Rachna Chhachhi is a certified holistic cancer nutrition and yoga expert, and author of four bestselling health books. She treats across 27 countries.
