Becoming A Great Place to Work

I love my work, there I said it….. I know there are others of you reading this who agree, you love your work to, but maybe you don’t say it out loud often enough.

In a recent end of year convo with a colleague, they asked me how I felt my year had been and if I had any reflections to share.  Naturally, given my line of work, reflective practice comes naturally to me, it has done for a good few years.

2023 became the ‘year of ease’ for me personally and the business. I don’t say this to brag, or say it lightly, but simply to share that for any new business (now in my eighth year) those early years are tough, sometimes lonely and often full of challenge and vulnerability.  It’s important that we pause to recognise how far we have come from time to time, how we got to where we are and what we have achieved before even considering what we might be looking to achieve in the future.

Moving into my eighth year as a director of my own small business after leaving behind a 20 year career in banking, who’d have thought it.  Remembering those early days of challenge, the anxiety, the (what felt like) failure, the graft, the hours, the worry.  To now stand back and say, ‘look what has happened here’  and ‘look how far we have come.’  So much has changed and has been achieved on a personal and business level.

As we gently slid into 2024 a few weeks back, the thought of new years resolutions came and went.  You see, I veer away from resolutions at the start of the new year, they feel a bit bottomless, almost faddy or can often be out of reach.  I’m more attuned to the idea of setting intentions for direction, which to me feels a little more compassionate, non judgemental and presents flexibility and freedom in allowing my intentions to shift or change, grow and respond to priorities or whatever is happening in life/our life at any time.

The intention for 2024 is one of growth on a personal level which might see the unfolding of a potential new qualification to add to my portfolio of work and special interest areas; maybe deepening a connection to another language and even the possibility of embracing a musical instrument, but who knows.

I also have an intention to be out doors more than inside, to be on my feet more than on a chair and to breathe in the fresh air and sunlight of any given day.  The 2023 ‘year of ease’ wasn’t a fluke.  It came about because of early intentions set in the seven years leading up to this moment right now as I write.  Being able to connect to what I love, activity that inspires me, people that give me energy all contributed to my ‘year of ease.’

Will 2024 be another year of ease?  You bet!  I wouldn’t have it any other way, that’s all about intention after all.  If I said “there is no way 2024 will be a year of ease, it’s going to be tougher than ever,” it’s highly likely that this would be the way my year would unfold.  Instead, I will continue to set an intention to:

Surround myself with people who care about me and want to invest in me, the business, my family and my interests.

Ease off the pressure pedal on myself or others to achieve big goals or dreams, instead I will allow life to unfold, rather than grasping or striving for outcomes that in western culture we can often get sucked up by measuring ourselves against, thus missing the bigger picture.

Be on my feet more than on my back side.

Get outside more than indoors.

To think about how my travel experiences might change if I could speak a certain language a little better, how music makes me smile and how learning a new skill might open some doors later down the line in some way.

If you have read this blog to this point, I have a question.  Did you notice my choice of words and language throughout?  Did you notice i used the words might, maybe, intention, unfolding, possibility, settling Vs words or phrases like I will, I must, I should.

Some of you might read this and think i lack commitment, others might realise that it’s less about a lack of commitment but more about an approach of agility, freedom to choose and creating opportunity in thinking.

I’m interested to hear your views and thoughts and if you made resolutions this year, or set a simple intention.

Best for 2024 for all who read my blog post.  I look forward to crossing paths later in the year.

Stephanie