Are you entering 2022 like a Tiger?
Are you ready? Lets get the year started
Hello 2022!
The new year period is traditionally when we look back, and reflect on what has passed, while at the same time looking forward to what may come, and what is to be achieved.
A number of years ago I worked with a leader who I learnt so much from. It was the first time in my HR career I felt like a true trusted business partner. I learnt how to really contribute to the business, and I learnt how to have challenging conversations with that leader without hurting our relationship.
While I was resilient enough to push back and challenge during these conversations, when I look back on that leader it wasn’t the same for others working with him.
During one team meeting the leader and another team member had a massive verbal altercation. Not only was the team member involved (a senior corporate leader) very shaken up, many of the rest of the team were as well.
I have been doing some inclusive leadership work recently and reflecting on this leader that I learnt so much from. At the time I really thought he was a great leader, and since we worked together, he has taken on more and more senior roles.
But now when I look back, I can see that while he got things done, there was some wreckage left behind. He had preconceived ideas about how things should be done, without respecting the needs of the team. He dealt with everyone in a very similar way and instead of creating spaces where people could be themselves, he sometimes led by fear and conflict.
But this is what is great about reflecting back. We don’t always understand things as they are at the time. We learn from our past experiences and try to do better.
I’m looking forward to 2022 with optimism and a learning mindset, and hopefully channeling the beauty, power and confidence of the Chinese zodiac Tiger.
Diversity and inclusion is a tough area to work in but we can all learn and grow together and that is cool.
Lisa xx
Some Inspiration to ease you into 2022
Video interview (beautifully shot and partly done on bicycles) with Phillipa York (formerly Robert Millar) on her elite level cycling career and transitioning gender in sport (this part starts at 18.40) and the discussion continues on to speaking about being accepted and loved.
Here’s a great collection of articles curated by Adam Grant to kick off 2022 in a positive and powerful way and reduce any left over languishing from 2021. If you are over Covid and want to get back to action, these resources are for you
Do you know what Homophily means? I didn’t until I read this article from David Green. It’s a great word we need to understand in our Diversity & Inclusion work