2020 Year in Review

It's safe to say that 2020 was a year like no other. We have never experienced something like this—together, as a community, or as a world. 

As we reflect upon all that's happened, it's important to take a closer look at what we've learned and discover how we can apply those learnings to do better in the future. So with NextGen Center, the specific learning I’m going to reflect on is that leadership is everywhere and applies to everyone. 

This year, everybody in the world has come face-to-face with the reality that leadership is about behavior and about change. 

We have all seen leaders who have made different choices and decisions. They have behaved in different ways and yielded different results. The most noticeable examples of everyday leadership are our frontline workers, the “heroes”, who have physically shown up at work in the midst of uncertainty, high risk, and change. I’m referring to first responders. Health care workers. Grocery store workers. Package delivery people. 

I’m also referring to all of the working parents out there, who have had to reimagine the ways they integrate professional and personal priorities as well as set direction for their colleagues and families. The teachers who are either back in school and or teaching remotely and having to adapt—or even harder, both. And the children who have had to deal with this upheaval as well, and lead and manage themselves through a difficult time. 

Leadership does not operate in a vacuum. It is not limited to a title, role, or particular work environment. It applies to every single one of us, because we all make choices and decisions each day. 

These choices and decisions go beyond this pandemic as well. We're talking about social justice, and transformative efforts, such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We've had to deal with a lot of upheaval as a collective this year, and we've all had to make choices about how we, as individuals, are going to behave and “show up” in this world. 

If anything, the work we do at NextGen Center is more critical than ever. It's always been important, but the need was amplified this past year. 

One of the most important concepts and practices that has helped leaders navigate this challenge is that of values. Values are what's important to us, our ingrained principles that guide our actions. These values have associated behaviors that guide how we navigate each day. They significantly factor into our choices and decisions, often unconsciously. In this VUCA year in particular, our values have been reflected in what we have done to help each other, support each other, and influence each other in a positive way. 

That’s why there has never been a more important time to focus on leadership, practice it, and build skills around it. Because ultimately, what matters is how we influence and affect others.

The best part about the work we get to do is collaborating and engaging with people and organizations that are adapting to this change and leading through this unprecedented time. They have significant responsibility—not just to their employees, but also to the community at large. Some of them are working on some of the most important initiatives around. 

At NextGen Center we partner with companies that avoided laying off a single person or cutting a single salary, to ensure that their people felt safe and secure. We partner with companies that put together forums to have difficult conversations and lean into the most pressing challenges of our day, whether it's around the nationwide protests that took place in the Spring, or helping their teams cope with the mental health obstacles that have come to the forefront. 

Almost everybody is figuring things out in this specific context for the first time, and the companies and partners we work with are nothing short of inspiring. It's the way they still develop and invest in their people. It’s the way that they have adapted to change, and are doing things they thought they would never do.

On an individual level many of the leaders I partner with have also put in significant work this year. They’ve grappled with some of the most challenging circumstances of their respective careers. To offer a sense of the day-to-day decisions, here are four of the most common questions I heard during 1:1 coaching conversations this year:

• How do I set a clear and honest direction for my team with so much uncertainty?

• How do I lead compassionately while also holding my team members accountable to a high level of performance?

• How do I stay engaged, and keep my team engaged in a virtual environment?

• And on the personal side: Am I doing what I really want to be doing with my life?

The most impressive thing about the individuals and companies we partner with is they demonstrate that, even in the midst of uncertainty, we can make choices every day to do something differently, change course, and be more effective. We can be more intentional to help and show up the way that we desire. That's the bottom line, the biggest takeaway. 

In terms of Nextgen Center, we have also gone through all of the adaptations and changes that we've seen in our partners. We've transitioned to a virtual environment, and have learned to embrace it.

The reason? The impact is high. We are now working with leaders in Texas, Colorado, California, Florida, western North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, and we can reach people everywhere. The work needs to be done and people want the work. And so the fact that we are able to grant more access (which is one of the most important things to us) is really fundamental. As long as the work is impactful, we'll continue to do it in a virtual format. 

On a personal note, I’ve also learned that virtual training is no easy feat. It requires a different mindset and skill set, more preparation, and the ability to improvise with technology. I think we've been able to differentiate ourselves in the way we continue to improve and make adjustments. And frankly, there's a lot of fun to be had because it’s never anything short of a challenge. 

I am especially thankful to the technology platforms that exist so we can actually continue to do this work, whether it's Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangout, WebEx, or Facetime. I am grateful that we can even “see” each other and make it happen. 

One specific highlight for me this year was doing a workshop with city workers in Raleigh, where they engaged in virtual training from their trucks! Literally in-between “jobs'' and providing their valuable services...they immersed themselves in learning. In growing. It’s very powerful to see people engage near and far, from any device. To “meet them where they are” in every sense of the phrase.

That is the silver lining that we have in all of this—the ability to stay connected. 

Thank you, as always, for your support and interest in NextGen Center. And more importantly, thank you for showing up this past year and making a difference under the most difficult of circumstances. 

We’re in this together,

Brian