A few thoughts as a leadership coach about the upcoming year.
I hope you arrived safe and sound into the new year. I also hope you spent New Year’s doing what you wanted to do – whether that’s partying or just reading a book.
As I look to the new year, I am excited about the choices I made professionally. The fact that I can support more clients as a coach in the upcoming months really is the best thing that could ever happen to me.
And it was a conscious choice. I spent many years in the financial industry, well known for being a high-stress work environment. It certainly is an industry where you need a lot of resilience and often “elbows” to have your way. It’s a shark tank.
I learned a lot. But deep down, I realized I didn’t truly enjoy it. It wasn’t because of my own situation. But I saw too many people struggling with the many demands put on them, I saw line managers forgetting to be just humans, employees suffering from not being heard or seen.
And it struck me that there was no support system in place. Why did we not live by “healthy employees equals better business”?
But the experience in the financial industry defined who I am today. I simply wanted to help people have a more fulfilling time at work. To understand that there is more to life than work. That their wellbeing matters a lot.
I have a desire to help create better leaders. Because I believe better leadership will result in happier teams. Happier teams will equal better results.
It’s too simple to say we need to work more or harder. It’s cynical to question those who want to work less because they want to spend more time with loved ones.
A good work environment starts at the top and needs to trickle down. I wish leadership was not about status but about inspiring and motivating others, infusing human elements into work.
As a one-person coach, there is only so much I can do. And that’s okay with me. Any change starts with small steps. If that’s the role I can play, then I’m more than happy.
If my contribution makes a few corporate lives better, then I have achieved my goal.
Off to a great 2024. Hoping to work with many of you.
Send me your thoughts and comments, as always.
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