Some Personal Lessons from 2020

For the past several years, we’ve kicked off our Best Practices Boards peer group meetings in January with each of our members (business entrepreneurs, company presidents, etc.) reporting on the mistakes they made in the prior year that they don’t want to repeat in the new one. Typically, this annual exercise gives each person a chance to reflect on their performance as a leader during the past year and helps them to think constructively about how to best focus their efforts in the future.

2020 was a year unlike any that we have ever experienced. Dealing with the coronavirus and the resulting health and economic consequences were a round-the-clock preoccupation for each of us. But, in the end, most of us were able to face these unprecedented challenges boldly and without fear. And our efforts produced many inspiring examples of how individual leaders and teams can triumph, even in the worst of times.

With all that we have dealt with in 2020, it somehow seems wrong to focus on “mistakes” and what we could have done differently. So this year, I’ve asked our group members to consider instead the lessons that they have learned from this past year, and the positive changes they’ve embraced in their businesses that will define them and their companies in the years ahead.

In that spirit, here are some of the key lessons I’ve learned over the past 12 months, and how they will transform my approach going forward:

1.      Maintain focus on your priorities: Especially in the early stages of the pandemic last Spring, crises and other unexpected issues emerged almost every day, threatening to consume our attention. But, by remaining focused on helping my clients navigate through that chaos, I was reminded that supporting them is and will always be my most important priority, whatever the challenge.

2.      Set realistic expectations for yourself and for others: At the same time, many of us struggled with how to successfully manage our work and personal responsibilities, while also meeting the expectations of others. So patience became the order of the day. I quickly learned that the best remedy is not to judge ourselves or others harshly, but to simply to recalibrate our expectations to reflect our limits.

3.      Be willing to actively embrace new approaches:  I can cite countless instances of how applying non-traditional approaches proved invaluable, not only for solving problems but in opening up new and previously unappreciated opportunities. Just one example. I was able to dramatically expand participation in my leadership development workshops when I was forced early on to revamp them for virtual presentation.

4.      Together, everyone achieves more (“TEAM”): Back in March, when companies were scrambling to figure out the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application process, our Best Practices Peer Group members actively shared information worked collectively to navigate the process. As a result, our members who were eligible received funding during the first round, with forgivable loans ranging from $150,000 to over $1 million.

5.      Don’t forget to take care of yourself: “You can’t help others until you first help yourself!” This is advice I’ve given repeatedly over the years when coaching clients on how to manage their responsibilities to their companies, their employees, and their loved ones. If 2020 has proved anything, it’s that the strong endure, no matter the circumstances. But you can’t be strong if you neglect your own needs. Take care of yourself first!

Feel free to share your own lessons (or mistakes!) from the past year by commenting on this post.