Career Pearls of Wisdom from 2022
As the countdown to the new year approaches, I have been reflecting on the many things I learned in 2022 on my career journey. I have been stretched and challenged to consider new ideas. My goal is to honor the values that support my life and career to provide me with meaning, purpose, and gratification. Here is a short sample of the many lessons, learnings, and ideas that I encountered this year through the lens of notable thought leaders.
Hybrid, Remote, or In-Person?
The struggle is real for many companies and decisions are impacting employee retention and engagement. Here are a few insights to ponder no matter where you stand on the distributed work continuum.
Katie Burke, Chief People Officer – HubSpot says, “A culture doesn’t live in our hallways, it lives in our hearts. I believe people can be productive from anywhere, working in any style.”
- HubSpot employees pick their work preferences every year, just like they do for open enrollment benefits.
- Connection in a distributed model makes for engaged and energized employees.
- Managers are multipliers and need the training and resources to empower others with a growth mindset to overcome blind spots and continuous improvement. We provide our managers with resources.
Future Forum equips leaders to drive transformation at work.
“We believe that business challenges and competitive advantages in this century come down to people — how you attract and retain diverse talent, how you align them against common purpose that engages them fully, and how you enable them to act with agility to achieve great things. We help leaders reimagine how people, process, and tools come together to make work better.”
Key Findings:
- The pandemic shifted the central role that work used to play in our lives.
- The Great Resignation has spurred a Great onboarding, but too many companies are under-invested in a quality onboarding process and experience.
- Transparent two-way communication is key to fostering connection and must be handled with care.
Nickle LaMoreaux, Chief Human Resources Officer, IBM says, “The future of work is neither the 9-5 in the office, nor work from anywhere, all the time. It’s in the messy middle”
According to LaMoreaux, like all good change management, this starts with clear and consistent communication. Leaders need to set new expectations that liberate all employees from the tyranny of the 9-to-5. They need to lay out new design principles that paint a picture for how individuals and teams can take control over how work is done.
Above all, leaders need to focus on the outcomes they expect to see, not the path required to achieve them.
Timeless Notes to Self
I’m grateful for the mentors, sponsors, and colleagues who shared this evergreen wisdom.
- If you refuse help, you refuse success.
- Be intentional about how you make people feel.
- Learn to embrace opposing views and approach with curiosity.
- Prioritize time for creativity, reflection, and focus.
- To inspire people, don’t show them your superpowers. Show them theirs.
- The highest form of self-confidence is believing in your ability to learn.
What’s Coming in 2023?
Nina Paczka, Career Advice Contributor for 2023 Workplace Trends reports compelling predictions for the new year and shared the following insight from notable leaders.
“We are in the midst of seismic shifts that are fundamentally altering how and why we work. The workforce in 2023 will be demanding a connection to purpose, a sense of belonging, and an ability to make an impact beyond just the self.
In this environment, traditional tactics of “perks” will not remain effective for too long. We need to disrupt how we think of employee experiences. We need to focus our efforts on mental well-being, workplace flexibility, and mindfulness of work. The greatest companies of tomorrow will pay attention to the “human” behind the “employee.” Instead of asking, “how do we grow?” leaders will ask, “how do we create inclusive growth,” realizing that growing their people will be the only way to grow their business. Leaders need to inspire people to connect and contribute in this new world, not just provide job perks. —Pankaj Srivastava, CEO of MentorCloud
“Salary transparency will become a must. As more Gen Z are entering the workplaces, the demand for salary transparency at every stage of recruitment is growing. For instance, New York (and Colorado) have passed laws requiring employers to share their pay ranges in every job posting. It’s high time to accept that you can attract great talent only when you are transparent with people from the start.” Nina Krol Outreach Manager at Tidio
As you consider a new year ahead in your career – take the time to reflect on what matters to you, so you can align with an organization (or entrepreneurial venture) that empowers you to do your very best work. You must take an active role in designing your career, so it doesn’t happen by default.
