“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” (CS Lewis)

Did you start 2024 with optimism? Did you start the year full of retrospection and resolutions? How is it going for you in the week of “Blue Monday”? The Royal Marines Commando spirit puts Cheerfulness alongside Courage, Determination and Unselfishness. Is Cheerfulness centred in all that you do?

Celebrating success and recognising progress can be difficult if the return to work flicks straight back into a never ending “knees to chest” session. Some may be seeking Sisyphean success; searching for the alluring alchemy of getting more with less resource! For followers (Centre for Army Leadership aficionados will have devoured the recently published Followership Tactical Doctrine note) and leaders alike, navigating this tricky time of discombobulating geo politics is challenging.

“More yet”…(a drill command familiar to all those who have been on parade) the turmoil of silent storms in our personal lives weighs into our world of work. Values-based organisations seek to create a sense of identity, cohesion and belonging among their people.

Followers and leaders need to symbiotically focus on what we can control and expend energy where we can make a difference; particularly with our people. At this time of year, we all need bosses who do:

• Kindness. Know your people; create psychological safety; listen to understand; act to help and care with compassion.

• Recognition and reward. Take time to say thank you and think of bespoke ways of recognising and rewarding individuals.

• Ruthless prioritisation. I had a brilliant boss who used to ask me what I was not going to do when new tasks landed on my desk/ inbox. I stayed in the Army because of him!

• Make time to be kind. Being kind may not come naturally to all, but it takes very little time and effort. The benefits are big!

Great bosses want you to succeed. Everyone thrives when they are valued and included. Productivity and operational effectiveness improve in positive working cultures. Research tells us bosses are the number 1 reason people leave their job; get in touch with me if you want to learn more about how to celebrate success and continuous improvement.

Finally, eloquent reminders of the importance of kindness:

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees” (Amelia Earhart)

“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Blog written by Lindsay MacDuff (He/Him), Head of Inclusion at BFBS Creative