What 2020 taught us
Hi my friend!
Happy 2021!!!
We did it: We made it to a brand-new year!
As a reminder, I’m still on my sabbatical, where I’m focusing on resting and recharging. So technically I haven’t made it to 2021 yet because I’m writing this in 2020! But as I write, I’m imagining how good it feels to have 2020 behind us and to have the chance to write a new story in the year ahead.
One of the things I like to do as I wrap up a year is reflect on the lessons learned and the ones I want to carry with me into the new year. Every year provides so many gifts (what I call learnings), but uh... nothing compares to 2020. I learned more about myself and our team this year than I ever thought possible.
Back in March, it looked like 2020 was shaping up to be a lost year. Every plan and goal was thrown off-track, and my team and I were faced with the possibility that we could never return to “business as usual” again. All we could do was focus on how to survive.
Looking back at it now, I can clearly see that 2020 was anything but a lost year. We did a lot more than just survive: We thrived. Against all odds, we confronted our biggest-ever challenges and pulled off some of our biggest-ever wins. As I’ve thoroughly documented on this blog, none of it was easy, but I’m grateful for every tough decision we had to make and every challenge we overcame because of the gifts that they gave us.
I thought it’d be special to do a roundup of not only the lessons I’ve personally learned that I will be carrying with me into 2021, but also the lessons that we’ve learned as a team and beyond. In the coaching groups that I host with leaders from around the world, we ended our year by sharing our biggest personal learning of 2020, and there were some gems in there as well. So, think of this as an all-encompassing list of the lessons that I want to keep front-and-center as we head into 2021.
Without further ado, here are 20 gifts of 2020:
Things don’t go according to plan, and that is the plan
Constant communication and transparency from leadership may not eliminate people’s fear during a crisis, but it can help them learn to navigate within it
It's important to create space for people to talk about whatever they need to talk about
You can’t call yourself a leader if you are quiet or neutral and not using your platform to demand change in the face of injustice
When you hit burnout, you don’t just hurt yourself; you hurt everyone around you
The only way out is through
Leading with intention and making every decision with your values in mind is what makes you a successful human and leader
You are allowed to have bad days (and months)
Instead of constantly charging forward, sometimes the best course of action is to be still, observe, and let things play out
Remind the people in your life how grateful you are to have them as often as you can
Empathy isn’t about solutions
We aren’t in control as much as we thought we are. That’s why it’s important to separate what is in your control from what is not and put your focus there
Boundaries matter: It’s okay not to please everyone
Sometimes the stuff that hurts the most is the stuff you learn from the most
Operating with a calm company, life, and mind is a constant and everyday discipline that has big rewards when you commit to it
Leaders can only take care of a team when they take care of themselves
Be present and intentional in every interaction, especially from behind a screen
Sometimes the most difficult circumstances give you the courage to change the things you need to change
When we harness our collective superpowers and move forward together in the same direction, we can do amazing things
Appreciate the little things
There we have it!
What are the biggest lessons of 2020 that you are carrying into this year? I’d love for you to share them in the comments! While 2020 may be one of the hardest years we’ve ever experienced, may we not overlook the gifts that it gave us.
Okay friends, see you back here next week. Same time, same place, and I’ll be super refreshed after my sabbatical. Thank you for giving me this time and space. I can’t wait to do 2021 with you!
Hugs through the screen,
Kristen
PS: I can’t promise I’ll be posting over the break, but if I do, it will be on my Instagram, so be sure to follow me there! (@kristenhadeed)
PPS: We are taking a pause on our weekly LIVE show until my sabbatical is over. We will be back in action NEXT WEEK on Wednesday, January 13th at 11 a.m. ET and every Wednesday after that! If you haven’t registered, you can do so here: https://bit.ly/3kWe2kT. Once you register you will get the Zoom link, and it’s the same link every time. See you so soon!
