In 2023, I’m crystal clear about the “Who” I’ll surround myself with

The problem with January is that we’re full of great expectations, but risk falling short if we get off to a bad start. 

As individuals, we surround ourselves with intentions, journals, vision boards, and resolutions. And we hope that the course we set will bring our dreams into fruition.

It turns out that what we’ve had a hard time with—and what keeps us from a December 30th victory lap—isn’t the strategy or the planning. 

It’s the people.

We do the same thing at work. We bring together canvases, surveys, assessments, and data to land on the strategy that will drive our organization forward. 

But, as we kick off the year, what we really need goes beyond the page. 

What we need is to find powerful ways to get other people on board. To contribute to our efforts. We need our customers to stay close. We need our teams to bring their best contributions to the table.

That means we need to focus on the Who even more than the Why, What or How.

Here’s what I observed: The greatest impact from every initiative that knocked it out of the park last year—for teams, for communities, and definitely for me as an individual—came down to surrounding ourselves with great people, collaborating with partners, and having special shared experiences.

We need to focus more on people – and less on process – to take our work to the next level.

How do we find our Who’s? 

Here’s a list that will get you started to make 2023 the year of the Who.

—Who inspires you?

—Whose dedication to a cause is a great model for our own sense of contribution?

—Who do you collaborate well with, so that your work is amplified many times over?

—Who challenges you to learn more, question your assumptions, up your game?

—Who do you want to serve?

—How do you hope to learn from?

—Who lights you up?

What other qualities earn someone a place on your Who List?

Who’s on your Who List for 2023?

Here’s mine—these are people whose work matters. I plan to follow them, collaborate with them when possible, and extend their reach as much as I can:

ChangeOS

So many people talk about change starting with the excitement of the beginning. Here are people working on the Operating System for change that makes getting to next a team habit with lasting community impact.

—Innovation Outpost: Greg Satell, Todd McLees

 

Future of Work, Talent, Economic Equity, New Voices in the Workplace, Education

We need to learn how to bring more people’s perspectives into the workplace, to elevate the game of expertise, and set the course for the next era of work. 

—Gender Intelligence Group:  Barbara Annis

—Culture of Innovation—The Hero’s Journey approach: Christian Crews and Jim Euchner

—People reframing the workplace: Joe Brady, Emily Watkins from the Instant Group. 

—People looking at work as an omnichannel experience: Craig Loeber, Jeffrey Langdon, Patti Faulkner from Adaptiv.work

—Future of work strategies: Gary A. Bolles and The Next Rules of Work 

 

Healthcare + Wellbeing Experience

The move to home healthcare during the pandemic was a great example of how well a human need can drive innovation. So many other opportunities on the horizon.

—Daniel Kraft and the inaugural NextMed Health conference

—Kent Lawson at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

—James Rogers at Mayo Clinic Ventures

 

Fintech

This will be the year when trust matters more than ever in finance. A short list of leaders driving ecosystem change in fintech.

—Thomas Krogh Jensen at Copenhagen Fintech, Chris Crespo at Nordic Fintech Magazine, Mario Hernández OpenFinance Mexico, Soren Juul Jorgensen (Stanford University)

 

Technologies, Digital Leadership, Ecosystems

The biggest force multipliers for growth and impact in 2023 are driven by a) technologies that have advanced to the point where they can be applied at scale and b) the ability for leaders to curate Ecosystems.

—Tom Furness and the Virtual World Society

—Ecosystems of Purpose: Alex Pesjak, Diana Joseph, Thomas Poedenphant, Lauren Fleiser, Tom Strand Aake Eiden

—Responsible AI Navrina Singh

—Ahura.ai Alex Tsado

 

Innovation to tackle significant challenges

For me, 2023 will be a year where we should all feel the importance of making bold changes. We need to look at tough challenges and gather people around us to solve them. Here are some people to get your list started.

Mohi Ahmed at Shimizu (construction++), Scott Kirsner (innovation), Hans Balmaekers (innovation), Dan Toma (metrics), John Metselaar (governance), Pete Comeau from Phocuswright (travel), Antonia Soler at Hilti (corporate investment), Robbie Kellman Baxter (long-term customer loyalty), Seth Godin (The Carbon Almanac),  Robb Gierke and Tim Leberecht from House of Beautiful Business (sustainability)

 

My theme for 2023: It’s all about the company we keep.

With appreciation for the community of people I exchange ideas with. 

Would value hearing about your themes and lists.