What an exciting time to be an entrepreneur!
If you’re a regular follower of our PFD Group blog, you already know I’m an optimist. I think Bob Iger, the newly reinstated Walt Disney Company CEO, said it best in his book The Ride of a Lifetime. “Even in the face of difficulty, an optimistic leader will find the path toward the best possible outcome and focus on that, rather than give in to pessimism and blaming.”
A Case for Optimism
As we look forward to a new year, it might be tempting to dwell on past difficulties that slowed our progress. Or to focus on the challenges we already know may face in the coming year. Or we could focus on the fact that 2023 is and will be a time of great opportunity.
First, there is awesome power in our resumed ability to travel for pleasure and for business. Sure, Zoom filled a gap when the world huddled indoors, but nothing is better at building positive “organizational outcomes” than in-person meetings.
I recently returned from a weeklong trip to India to consult with a PFD Group client and I’m excited about the opportunities that await. I’ve returned home energized by my learnings in India and by having cultural exchanges with various diverse communities I met while in Asia.
Travel Industry Challenges
I’m less excited about the roadblocks the travel industry, especially airlines and airports, are creating for travelers. Industry experts are predicting that it might be 2026 before the corporate travel sector returns to 2019 levels, and my experiences at London Heathrow Airport suggest that airports aren’t doing much to encourage frequent business travelers to return to the skies.
During my stopover at Heathrow, I witnessed a level of apathy I have never seen before. Lines were brutally long–two hours to reclaim baggage–.and airport customer service seemed to be largely checked out and unresponsive. There were a few heroes but they were few and far between.
As a traveler and a human being, I realize that we don’t always know everything others are experiencing and it is important for us to share both grace and truth. But as a business leader and executive coach, I also know how vitally important it is to give our employees the tools and training they need so they can serve as full ambassadors for our businesses.
What’s Your Talent Strategy?
Talent–and the proper training of that talent–will probably continue to be a major issue throughout 2023. After all, Forbes recently dubbed finding great talent as The War for Talent.
But instead of focusing on the attention-getting headlines about the great resignation or quiet quitting, entrepreneurs should also recognize that there is an incredible pool of talent looking for new opportunities right now.
While the major layoffs–and position vacating–at some of the world’s leading tech companies may not be great news for those employees in the short term, it does provide an incredible opportunity for organizations looking to build up their leadership teams.
We can help with that. If you’d like help attracting and coaching great leaders, PFD Group can help. That’s what we do every day, as we consult with 100+ satisfied global business leaders. For more information, contact us for an introductory call.