“The world is changing rapidly, and as leaders, we have a significant role to play.”
Essential leadership strategies for 2024: as 2023 draws to a close discover the insights Leah Kendall and Angela Butt brought back from the World Business Forum Sydney that are defining the way we approach leadership and our coaching practise.
The World Business Forum is an annual two-day learning experience held in cities around the world. It brings together thousands of senior business leaders and executives from across all industries to explore cutting edge leadership content. Here are the themes that stood out to us:
Learn and Stay Curious
One of the prevailing themes at the World Business Forum was the importance of continuous learning and curiosity. 2023 has been dominated by evolving tech (Chat GPT anyone?) and the accompanying trend is tech anxiety (Kin + Carta research revealed 94% of leaders suffer from it). Change at the pace we are all experiencing it can be tough, but learning into learning can help.
Learning is a lifelong journey. Embrace your inner knowledge-seeker and encourage those around you to do the same. In our field of coaching, staying curious about people and their unique journeys is essential. Embrace the exciting potential of AI; be curious about its applications in your environment. Learning together is not only productive but incredibly rewarding.
Authenticity for Trust
In a world where trust is a rare commodity, authenticity is your secret weapon. We're living in a time where being real and allowing others to do the same can build trust faster than anything else. Authenticity forms the foundation of our coaching practice; it's about embracing your true self and allowing others to do the same.
Embracing Your Power
We are all navigating a fast-changing world, and sometimes it can be exhausting. It's crucial to be aware of the mindsets we adopt and the environments we create or find ourselves in. After three years of constant flux, many of us need to rebuild our belief in our power and control over our lives. This shift to empowerment creates a physiological change; it activates our approach system, making us more trusting and action-oriented. Kurline J Altes wrote for Forbes on the power of ‘cultivating compassion for transformation’. Often, we are our own harshest critics, dwelling on past mistakes and perceived shortcomings. The journey to empowerment begins with self-compassion: an understanding that acknowledges our flaws while celebrating our progress. Treating ourselves with the same tenderness we offer to friends initiates a profound process of healing and growth. In the corporate arena, self-compassion is a powerful tool for leadership. Leaders who practice self-compassion become more empathetic and understanding toward their team members and foster innovation, trust and psychological safety.
Investing in Relationships
In an uncertain world, strong relationships serve as the foundation of stability. Understanding your team's strengths and weaknesses, respecting them as individuals, and earning their respect daily are crucial practices. It's essential to share praise and provide your team with a sense of purpose. If your relationships need work, talk to us early in 2024 so we can help – getting this right is foundational to success. You may want to explore some of our ‘Leadership Essentials’ bite size workshops to help you here.
Balancing Demands with Care
The world is changing rapidly, and as leaders, we have a significant role to play. It's about inspiring, simplifying complexity, providing clear direction, and maintaining high standards. This balance between being results-driven and people-focused is a challenge we face daily. Our work revolves around helping leaders strike this balance, making it a cornerstone of our coaching philosophy.
If you also attended the World Business Forum, we'd love to hear which takeaways resonated with you. Let us know your insights and let's keep the conversation going. In a world where leadership and personal development are paramount, these insights help us steer our course.
So, stay curious, stay authentic, and tap into your power with self compassion
