Without a doubt, the month of December is when many people reflect on the events of the past year and the progress that they have (or haven’t) made.  Thanks to some of my reflections, I’ve been aimlessly singing an old Coca-Cola jingle that I would like to see reimagined for 2020. 

I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. I’d like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company…”

I am so sincere about this that I even left a message on the company’s message board. There is something about nostalgia that makes things more comfortable.  This type of nostalgia works for commercials and holiday traditions, but not so much for business decisions.  Business leaders can never expect to keep repeating the same actions and getting different (or better) results.  Unfortunately, not everyone realizes this. 

One of the most frightening things to me is to see something or someone get stuck in their progression. There are so many childhood memories that didn’t survive because they didn’t know how to make the changes or experience the growth necessary to survive – Blockbuster, Borders Books, Woolworth, and probably the most tragic…Toys R Us. Everything that these businesses did in the beginning stages helped them to become household names, but over time they didn’t make the necessary investments in their own model to ensure further longevity and they became obsolete. The same can be true for leaders. 

Leaders have to be good decision makers, great problem solvers, strategic thinkers and intentional relationship builders.  These skills don’t develop overnight, and they need to be continuously sharpened.  Success is admirable, but continued success requires ongoing work.  To ensure ongoing effectiveness leaders have to continue to invest in themselves. 

As you journey into your next year, don’t forget about how important it is to engage in personal and professional growth.  Enhanced strategies and better delivery don’t happen without being both intentional and reflective.  Professional development helps you to remain relevant in an ever-changing world.  You’ve probably done very well for yourself as a leader, but if you’re honest with yourself there are some places where you need to improve.  And if you thought you had it all together – 2020 probably proved you wrong! 

Choosing to invest in others and not investing in yourself leads to being obsolete and soon you will be a fond memory just like Toys R Us.  

Let’s grow together.  For 2021, I am providing several professional development options with varied delivery types and multiple levels of engagement.  These options will provide you with a depth and breadth of information to keep you moving higher in your leadership. More information here