2021 - The Rainbow After the Storm

Here we are in January, named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of transitions. With one face, he must be looking back at 2020, still wild-eyed and in shock as many of us are. Some might argue it had its good points, but let's be frank: 2020 was troubling, to put it politely.

Bringing us threats, both real and imagined, to our bodies, careers, and institutions, 2020 rocked our sense of security.

Science shows that when people feel insecure and threatened, they re-focus on their sense of purpose and personal values. Essentially, the fear of losing what is important pushes us to focus on what is important.

So maybe Janus, with his other face, is looking to 2021 with a sense of optimism for a better world. A year of principled decisions made with the highest of intentions and respect for one's convictions. Those values we gave lip service to are being pulled out, dusted off, and seen with a new appreciation—practiced rather than admired.

Optimistically, here are a few business predictions for 2021.

Trusted leaders will be needed and more valuable than ever before.

After a year of sometimes violent protests that made us question leaders, science, culture, and even our neighbor, the majority of us are feeling a little unsettled. Insecure workers will need compassionate leadership that understands their fear and works with staff to overcome suspicions and skepticism.

Workers will be gravitating to leaders who can be trusted. Conscious leaders practicing honesty and transparency will reassure teams, and those teams will go on to be more confident, productive, efficient, and profitable.

Organizations that place as much importance on character as technical aptitude will be the ones that make innovations and get back to normal the quickest. When there's no road map, no task list, no step-by-step instructions, character and core values inform best decisions.

Organizations will continue to see more rapid solutions and innovations in the workplace.

Those companies that didn't get washed away in the challenging economic environment last year were the ones that pivoted fast. Changes in the way people work, communicate, and serve in 2020 came head-spinningly quickly out of urgent necessity.

Companies have learned lessons and see how wonderfully capable they are. Expect the changes to continue and to result in a higher ROI and workers' quality of life. Companies with leaders who are open and receptive to change will be the employers of choice.

Employee Wellbeing will be back front and center.

Workers have spent a year without traditional vacations, favorite restaurants, or even spending time in parks with kids. Employers will need to be more flexible as individuals choose families over their work, in the work/life balance battle.

Compassionate leadership will be rewarded. 2020 shined a bright light on the essential things in life. More than ever, employees appreciate employers who can navigate the company's needs with the employees' desires.

Whether we are talking about mental health, work-life balance issues, or accommodating shifting parenting schedules during the school year, Covid has shown that those employers who take care of their people will become employers that workers seek out. As employers show flexibility, employees will show greater loyalty.

As the economic situation improves, there will be a race to get the best employees on board. At the end of 2021, we will find that those employers that took the best care of their employees were the most successful. Organizations that have leaders conscious of business strategy with high emotional intelligence will be the biggest winners.

Happy New Year!