NextGen Center 2022 in Review
For Every Action, There is an Equal and Opposite Reaction.
Like the past few years, which have been filled with unprecedented circumstances and challenging world events, 2022 has been another year beset with adjustment and change.
A key concept discussed in our training and coaching is the change curve (see an example below). In the research around change, it becomes clear that we follow a similar path.
When we work towards something new, there is a general sentiment of excitement – knowing that change can lead to a different result or a feeling we desire.
Then there is a dip or drop-off from the initial excitement as we realize that making change often means facing some unpleasant feelings or circumstances.
As we confront these feelings, it takes time, energy, different ways of thinking, and then some level of action (and continuous practice) to make the change sustainable.
To be clear: even if we want to change, it can be challenging to achieve because the process of change itself is challenging.
How change happens
Change on an Individual and Collective Level
Think about the most common New Year’s resolution: Losing weight.
We may have a vision and excitement about being fitter or healthier.
Then we start to experience the unpleasant feelings of how challenging it is to invest the time and energy (e.g. soreness, competing priorities) and making the necessary changes to diet to achieve the desired result.
Then it becomes unknown: some of us will persevere and create new patterns and habits to lose weight. And some of us will taper off, eventually resorting to the same habits that do not shift us toward our desired goals.
We are all prone to this. It's part of being human. But when change requires a collective effort, it can be even more challenging.
In 2022, we saw this situation occur at a macro level as world citizens. Whether we were confronted with economic uncertainty, inflation, government shifts, or wars, there was significant change this past year. Some aren’t related to the events of 2022 alone but are the result of a continued recalibration from the pandemic that has endured for almost three years.
And that’s where our leadership matters. Understanding that the day-to-day events, the activities that are occurring right in front of us, do not account for the entire story. What is happening today, at this moment, is part of a bigger picture. Think about it as a chapter of our broader story.
2022 and Now 2023: Another Year of Recalibration
I mention all of this because like this past year, 2023 will likely be another year of recalibration. This pattern is evident at the global level, as well as the industry level. We partner with companies whose bottom lines grew significantly during the pandemic but have started to level off as the shift back to traditional ways of work and living re-emerged. We saw a workforce evolve from ‘happy to have a job’ during the first year of the pandemic to ‘I can pick any job I want.’ That trend is also leveling off, and many of the companies we partner with have navigated that stage effectively.
How?
Because all along, through 2020 and moving into 2023, those companies were authentic about what they stand for, clear about their vision, and they worked hard to foster positive and meaningful relationships with their teams and customers.
In other words, over many years of business, they invested in building foundations for their companies based on trust, safety, and hard work, and these foundations helped them to achieve their goals.
Don’t be mistaken - leaders within these organizations have had their hands full and faced the same level of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty as the rest of us. But instead of thinking that changes and disruptions from the pandemic were forever, they made adjustments, responded to the changes, and strategically waded through options and possibilities.
Leading Through Uncertainty
They asked the hard questions, which includes:
How do we effectively hire people in this competitive environment where money seems to be the determining factor?
How do we retain our team and keep investing in them? To help them reach their potential?
How do we get everyone aligned, have tough conversations when we need to, and keep a winning spirit in the face of uncertainty?
How can we show up as our best selves every day to set an example and help our team, company? And our families?
What does the next phase of our leadership journey look like?
These are broad questions without short-term, concrete answers, but they must be addressed. If 2020 and 2021 represented how to survive the most uncertain of times, then 2022 was about how do I/we sustainably navigate out of it.
Reflecting on our Leadership Practice
At NextGen Center, we have not been immune to this recalibration. And on a personal level, 2022 may have been the most challenging year yet in terms of change-making.
Our services and partnerships significantly expanded during 2020 and 2021, and in 2022 we spent time trying to stabilize. This included bringing on new team members, streamlining processes, and sustainably calibrating for the future.
It has not been easy, and we are nowhere near finished, but the exciting news is that we continue to stay focused on our goals: connecting with growth-oriented people, expanding our services, and thinking more deeply about the next 5-10 years. We have been and continue to be intensely focused on the impact of our work.
This past year we made some investments in our awareness building (marketing), our training and coaching, as well as our community. And perhaps the most important investment we made was to focus our time and attention on what NextGen Center is and what we do best: The practice of leadership.
Our main priority now is navigating change and growth sustainably and effectively. There are a number of directions we can go, and that is what we have been and will continue to evaluate.
Gratitude and the year ahead
To give you a sense of our change, in 2022 we partnered with 25+ companies, which included 200+ participants, and we added two new training topics to our menu of services. Three of the organizations we partner with were acquired, and many expanded in significant ways.
We feel incredibly grateful to partner with companies on their journeys to fulfill their vision and make a difference. As one of our partners at Chapel Hill Tire recently said, 'I don't know if it’s our culture, NextGen Center, or our team just being awesome, but whatever it is, let’s keep it going. The results are transformational.’
I’d also like to take a moment to recognize our newest team members at NextGen Center (Fielding Arnold, Lori Nero Ghosal, Lia Parisyan, and Debbie Dodson) and express my appreciation for the commitment and impact of our team members and advisors who have been with us for years: Joe Leboeuf, Peggy Richmond, Sackeena Gordon-Jones, Carl Baumann, Adrienne Krantz, and Ashley Glover. One of our long-time coaches, Barbara Dower, recently retired, and our friend, Lauren Walker, transitioned. Their impact, as well as the impact of our entire team, is continually felt.
I view this past year as another one of learning and growth. The subject line for the email is for every action; there is an equal or opposite reaction. As strange and uncertain as things can be, we must be intentional and mindful about how we navigate the strangeness and change. We are capable of doing so.
Which leads us to 2023. I encourage you to stay focused, be authentic to who you are, and make a difference in the lives of those who follow you.
You can expect more communication from us in the year ahead, especially on how to practice your leadership and growth.
Wishing you a happy, healthy, and intentional new year,
Brian