At the end of each year, the universe is filled with predictions about the next one. Since 2020 proved to be a fool’s folly for many pontificating pundits, I will refrain from making any such predictions.
If anything, 2020 is more of a learning year – a period of reflection. Its an opportunity to consciously try to expand our knowledge and evolve our thinking. I find that it makes me ever-more capable. More importantly, it is a reminder to keep us humble, by being aware of all the great knowledge that so many others possess. It’s a realization that despite all the progress in technology, humans are, and will always be the ultimate knowledge cloud, with bits of information stored in billions of minds, expanding at exponential speeds of thought.
This year, though, was so different from those preceding it that it offered unusual insights. The business world and the economy were in uncharted waters. Global operations were upended. Familial life shifted radically. Social issues challenged my prevailing understanding of the values and culture of my adopted country. My experiences as a dark-skinned American and an immigrant from India were brought to the fore. Friendships and relationships were put to the test. Social distancing became a thing. Income inequality grew. Borders closed. People were displaced. And so much more.
So, while some may be more profound than others, I expect that I will remember things I learned in 2020 year with particular intensity. Here are a few of them:
Leadership rests on values. In the face of uncertainty, so many of us (teams I work in, and teams I lead) looked in part to their leaders for direction and reassurance. I found that leaders with strong values – those that shared their own concerns and vulnerability stood out for the pack. Regardless of their rank, transactional leaders were exposed and failed. From my perspective, while I could not always be certain about how things would play out, I am more certain now than ever before on how a team should always act: with purpose, empathy, and resilience.
Communications trumps strategy: Some of the subtleties of strategy that we had met about and agonized over at the beginning of the year were simply lost. But strategies predicated on simple, sound approaches still held it together overall. Communication and repetition of these true-north objectives helped people learn and act and cut through the noise. When this communication was personalized, distractions disappeared, and a new kind of teamwork emerged – one that played out itself on digital screens, continuously, making our work-life the biggest, baddest reality show ever.
Authenticity became authentic. Authenticity has been a buzzword for a couple of decades now. This year, though, every business of every type and size had to act on their words. The way they responded showed their true nature: how they treated their workforces; how they met obligations to customers; how they worked with supply chains and end users. Leaders had to turn their messaging and tactics on a dime. Brands that succeeded were those that were empathetic in their understanding of the fast-moving under-currents of cultural, social and economic changes. Shakeouts often reward the brave. Many businesses and leaders that took strong decisive positions early without hedging their options, despite political pressure, existential challenges, and institutional havoc, showed that authenticity and character will always be the holy grail of leadership.
No Health without Mental Health. As a society, we like to isolate—even relegate—mental health concerns. Yes, some percentage of people have to pay close attention to their mental health, finding therapies and counseling, but it’s just a fraction of the population. Again, 2020 upended that idea. Nearly all of us were facing stress, uncertainty, isolation, and just plain old change. I recognized that my family, my colleagues, friends, relatives, and ultimately everyone I encounter has the potential for depression or anxiety. Loneliness and isolation are generational issues that we must solve as a society. Going forward maybe we will all have more empathy for those who have serious issues. But more importantly, we can all make mental wellness a personal priority.
Purpose is Personal: In challenging times, purpose is what keeps you going. If people don’t feel connected to their work, they can’t embrace change or stay motivated or simply work effectively, whether they are isolated or connected As Handwashing came to the fore, Purpose-washing was shown the door. At the same time, small, simple acts of purpose – kindness, generosity, support, encouragement from people everywhere tell us that purpose does not always have to rise to change the world level. While many of us might never see how we are making a difference to others in the larger world, impacting even a single person and their lives, even momentary counts. In 2020, Purpose finally became an act, not a slogan.
