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Research from the Harvard Business School shows that 15 minutes reflecting on the day improved employee performance by 23 per cent in just 10 days. That’ s an amazing statistic and one that I’ m sure we would all love to implement in our own businesses.
When I consider how this year compares to 2020 there have been some changes. This time last year, I was exhausted- as were my team. We’ d changed, we’ d adapted, and we’ d survived. Just as every business that’ s still here had.
2021 has been different but in no way less challenging. We’ ve coped with the changes that Brexit has brought. We’ ve survived another lockdown. We – like many other companies – are now back in the office with hybrid working. Furlough has ended and the war for talent has been reignited with businesses focused on retaining people as there’ s a struggle to recruit talented people.
We’ ve just had the 26th Conference of the Parties( COP26) with the global issues of climate change now on the agenda for every boardroom.
All in all, 2021 has felt like a marathon. And the thought of what 2022 holds in store can be exhausting to contemplate – especially when we know there’ s more uncertainty in store.
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Looking back, what have been the major developments for our clients over this past year:
• Strategic digital: Last year was all about a quick move to digital. This year, there’ s been a more considered and strategic approach into how to embed technology to enable collaboration and engagement – internally and with clients and customers.
• New launches: It’ s been great to see that clients have invested their time in research and development. This has led to a strong year of innovation with new brands, products and services being launched.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: While Covid-19 impacted M & A activity, there has been plenty of consolidations, especially in the
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last six months. The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that in Quarter 2 of 2021, the total value of domestic M & A was £ 6.1bn higher than the previous quarter. Inward M & A investment was £ 19.4bn higher.
• Making the move to green: How to be sustainable has been a crucial question for businesses. Driven in part by COP26, but also the recognition that each of us has a part to play in tackling climate change. It’ s also of key importance for retaining employees and recruiting people – especially Generation Z.
• Health and Wellbeing: Covid has helped us rebalance the priority of health and wellbeing – for ourselves, our team and the people we work with. After nearly 18 months of semi-isolation, our immune systems have taken a hit. If it’ s not Covid, then it will likely be flu, pneumonia and sheer exhaustion that’ s contributing to time off sick. Health and wellbeing have been and will continue to be a top priority for businesses.
• The Great Resignation: The papers have been full of a predicted great resignation as people have the confidence to reassess their roles and positions. In August the number of open jobs surpassed 1 million for the first time ever. Just like employees, business owners are now feeling confident to recruit meaning that there’ s stiff competition in attracting talent. Understanding your employer brand and how you attract people to want to work for you is critical.
Take the time to pause and reflect on what you’ ve achieved. It makes planning for the years ahead so much easier. While it’ s normal to look forward with slight trepidation, we also hope that there’ s more than a tinge of excitement. There’ s all to play for in 2022 and more. It’ s time for innovation, adaptation, and exploration of new opportunities.
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“ There ' s all to play for in 2022 and more. It ' s time for innovation, adaption, and exploration of new opportunities " |
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