I think Spring is my favourite season of the year. After the lifelessness of Winter, the new life and new growth we see as the weather warms up and the days grow longer lifts my spirit and gives me renewed energy. Spring officially starts around the 20th March, known as the vernal (Latin for “Spring”) equinox (Latin for “equal night”) where we have equal measures of daylight and darkness. It seems enthusiasm with the appearance of the sun is quite universal.
A few fun facts about Spring:
- Warmest Spring on record in the UK at 9.2 degrees Celsius was 2011
- The coldest, again in the UK, was 1962 at 5.8 degrees
- Probably not a coincidence that the Egyptians built the Great Sphinx pointing directly towards the rising sun on the day of the vernal equinox.
- Spring seems to be the most popular season to buy/sell a house.
- Spring is most often associated with rebirth, renewal, and regrowth.
Winter is a season where not a lot seems to be going on, everything seems dormant. Many businesses have seen unprecedented periods of dormancy over the last couple of years. Is 2022 the year the market properly wakes up to new growth opportunities? Where will you see regrowth and renewal after recent consolidation?
Whilst many businesses have struggled, some have achieved unparalleled growth. If you are to take advantage of the opportunities out there, then leadership is key in setting the vision and direction to make it happen. To restate one of my favourites:
“The way you view things is the way you do things.” John Maxwell
The way you think about your current circumstances as a leader will have a direct impact on the actions you take and the way you talk about vision and strategy. If you are not satisfied with the current reality in your company the only question is what will you change? As Einstein said you can’t continue to do the same things day in and day out and expect different results!
Ask anyone who knows me well and they will tell you that I am to gardening what chocolate is to making teapots out of. I do understand though the need to cultivate the ground if you are to make the best of the growing season. The same is true of any team you lead. To get the best out of your team, you will need to cultivate the right environment so they can produce all they are capable of.
Growth Hacks
- Figure out where you want to be in 12 months’ time; be really clear.
- Understand your current reality; be brutally honest with where your team is right now.
- Work out the gap and what needs to be done to get your team/company/organisation to where they need to be.
- Bring in help, somebody who will help you see what you need to see and get the clarity you need to execute good strategy towards your most successful year yet.
- Take action.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but to start your thinking about what can be done to take advantage of the opportunities now that the “Winter” is over.
“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.” James Allen
You can book a complimentary call with me here, to reawaken your dreams.
Stay safe.
