by Megan Winkler, MA, MBA - The Good Business Witch

I know you’ve seen news of thousands of people laid off from big, known businesses in the first several weeks of the year. This can make you feel as uncertain as the job market feels this year (spoiler alert - it’s not as uncertain or rocky as some of the men with their hands deep in our pockets want you to think it is!). I’ve said it before that leadership and management are not the same thing. And, since YOU’RE a leader (doesn’t matter how small of a group you’re leading), you’ll want to tap into the trends and strategies for 2023.

Here’s what I see coming for leaders this year:

Life is About More Than Work

In a post-pandemic world, we’re committed to the idea that there’s more to life than going into an office daily. Career changes, early retirement, and quitting due to childcare needs in 2021 and 2022 are still going strong in the “Great Reshuffle.” So too, is the idea that boundaries make for a better work/life relationship.

Employees demand better benefits and seek organizations that treat them better than their previous workplaces.

Well-Being is Essential

Remember the days when you put off the doctor’s appointment because you didn’t (or couldn’t) take time off work? Yeah, me too.

In 2023, leaders must prioritize the health and well-being of their team members. We are WAY past the cursory gym membership reimbursement or an HSA. Instead, leaders must take an active role in supporting their employees.

This looks like more flexibility in work schedules, accommodations for special needs, and retirement of any micromanaging techniques. It’s less about the hours people work and more about their progress on important tasks and department goals.

Celebrate Differences

Leaders should be on the lookout to celebrate our differences. Yes, there’s something to be said for making sure your employees fit within the company culture, but if that culture is too narrow, you’re cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Some of the most creative minds look “different” on the outside. Perhaps they’re more introverted, or maybe they’ve got ADHD. Neurodivergence is not only not a downside but can actually be a benefit to the organization itself.

Not everyone is rip, roaring, and ready to go at 8 a.m., either. I tend to do my best work in the mornings, but that doesn’t mean that everyone does. Allow your team members to thrive when they thrive, not when you THINK they should be on fire.

Strive for Team Buy-In

Clear, concise communication is also a must-have these days. Information floods us daily, so leaders must cut through that noise and ensure everyone is on the same page. So, don’t bury the lede; make sure your people know the difference between brainstorming and actual directives.

In 2023, leaders will do well to ensure everyone understands what’s expected of them and that the goals are ambitious yet reasonable. This helps increase team buy-in on goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Emotional Safety

While uncertainty is a fact of the human experience, over the past several years, we’ve had to manage with uncertainty right in our faces all the time. There will likely be more industry shake-ups in 2023, along the lines of what we saw at the end of 2022 with massive layoffs. We’ll also be in election season again before we know it, and there’s a ton of stress there too.

As a leader, it’s essential to provide an emotionally safe work environment that welcomes discussion and discourse while also allowing team members to be human. We’re all still recovering from the collective trauma of the pandemic. Our bodies and brains are on high alert to any change in our environments, so it’s critical for leaders to manage changes and transitions within the organization with compassion and intention.

If you’re ready to take your leadership to the next level to create a scalable and profitable business, let’s talk!