With 2025 in full swing, businesses are asking: “What can we do this year to crush it?” Prioritize people. Years of organizational development consulting have shown me that the biggest wins come from investing in strong leaders, empowered managers and engaged employees.
Executive leadership skills: Vision meets strategy
Leadership starts at the top. To sharpen those executive chops, here are some recommended strategies:
1. 360-Degree Surveys: Feedback from peers, subordinates and stakeholders helps you understand your leadership effectiveness. They offer clearer insights into strengths and areas for growth, fostering targeted development.
2. Executive Coaching: Tailored one-on-one coaching to identify strengths, tackle blind spots and sharpen communication skills. It can lead to smarter decisions and a clearer sense of self.
3. Leadership Masterclasses: Deep dives into cutting-edge topics like digital transformation, innovation, workplace wellbeing, and change management. This presents fresh tools to tackle today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Manager development: The unsung heroes of the office
It’s no secret that managers are often overlooked but essential to company success. Their relationships and effectiveness impact 70 percent of your employees’ experience, according to Gallup. How can you equip your managers while empowering your team?
1. Building Trust: Promote honesty and consistency. It can lead to loyal teams that work well together.
2. Feedback Culture: Make developmental feedback a positive experience, not a surprise attack. This brings smoother discussions and fewer awkward silences.
3. Skills Workshops: Covering essentials like conflict resolution and time management can yield managers who are ready for anything.
4. Peer Learning Groups: Give managers a safe space to share wins, woes and wisdom. This can bring better problem-solving and the realization they’re not alone.
The end goal? Teams that perform like a Swiss watch — efficient, synchronized and slightly expensive.
Employee engagement: Fueling performance and retention
When employees feel valued, connected and aligned with the company’s mission, productivity rises and turnover drops. That’s engagement. So, how do you boost it?
1. Communication Styles: Help employees decode each other’s quirky behaviors through workshops and assessments. Means fewer misunderstandings, more teamwork and fewer “per my last email” moments.
2. Recognition Programs: Celebrating wins with awards, shout-outs or snacks can lead to higher morale.
3. Engagement Surveys: Ask employees what they really think (and actually listen). You can get fresh ideas and fewer anonymous complaints.
The people priority payoff:
A thriving workplace
Investing in leadership, management and engagement leads to more than just warm and fuzzy feelings. Productivity spikes, teams gel and goals are achieved.
Make this year’s mantra, “the people priority.” The results will speak for themselves.
Judy Bodenhamer is founder and managing director of Client Experience Group
