You know that it is time for a holiday when you rock up to the airport an hour early for your flight.
Granted, there’s an hour time difference crossing the border from Byron to the Gold Coast but seeing how I do this trip every other week, you’d think I’d be on top of it.
Nonetheless, it’s given me time to reflect on 2024 and the key trends I’m seeing impacting organisations.
Feedback & Accountability
This year I’ve observed a renewed focus on feedback and accountability. I’d suggest there are two reasons for this. 2023 was an employee driven market. People were jumping ship as the grass was greener elsewhere, and/or they could get more flexibility or money.
There were lots of roles on the market and it was really challenging to retain employees. This meant that leaders stepped over issues and didn’t have the hard conversations.
Additionally, changes to psychosocial safety legislation and the requirements for employers to take accountability for the mental health and well-being of their people have led some leaders to avoid conversations out of fear of being perceived as bullies.
In 2024, leaders have had to relearn the skill of giving feedback and holding their teams accountable.
Leading through Ambiguity
2024 has shifted back to an employer driven market. The cost-of-living crisis, salary freezes and restructures are happening left, right and centre. The fear is real.
Leaders and organisations have had to make tougher decisions.
Whether your organisation is in limbo with rolling restructures, or at the other end of the scale, where it feels like change upon change, leaders need to help their people navigate through this uncertainty. Especially when they too, are experiencing the change themselves.
There has been a real focus on leading our people through ambiguity and uncertain times this year. The one thing for sure is that change is here to stay.
I predict this will continue into, and even increase, in 2025. How are you preparing your leaders to lead change effectively?
Thriving Teams
The third focus in 2024 has been around building high performing teams. Keeping teams productive amongst the chaos. It’s proven that teams that unite and work in cohesion, achieve more.
Addressing the challenges the team is facing collectively has been more important than ever.
Whether the team is a:
siloed team
complacent team
newly formed team
revolving door team, or
a large team that feels more like a group than a team.
Working on the team’s purpose, building strong relationships and holding each other accountable to a strategy, along with clear direction, have been a real focus in 2024.
Leadership
2024 has seen a massive reduction in employees having leadership aspirations, with only 4% of employees aspiring to lead. Add on top of this that 500 current leaders are retiring each day in Australia and that many leaders are reporting feeling burnt out!
Building leadership capability remains a critical focus to having a successful business. Who will lead your people in the future? And do they have the skills to do so effectively?
I look forward to sharing the trends for 2025 with you in the new year.
PS. Here are a few ways we could work together in 2025:
Develop goals specific to you through 1:1 coaching.
If you are looking to deliver a leadership development program into your organisation, please reach out.
Build team cohesion through a thriving teams session.
Jump on a call with Claire.
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