CEO Letter 2022

Dear Reader

Entering the third year of a global pandemic, there is a sense of restlessness and optimism in the air. Maybe it is simply wishful thinking. But either way, everyone is ready to turn that corner sooner rather than later.

With the hope of an endemic phase on the horizon, it is time to assess the damage and get busy rebuilding. But while revival sounds excellent at this point, the recovery efforts are nothing for the faint-hearted. The pandemic left us with an overworked, exhausted, and disengaged workforce – a workforce longing to ‘resume’ their lives and regain a sense of normalcy.

But what is coined the ‘New Normal’ will be anything but normal. Constant and accelerated change is the name of the game. Creating the ‘New Normal’ means establishing ways that give us the stability and capability to deal with constant change.

It is about building a muscle for continued and continuous adaptability so that change is not a disruption to the system but an opportunity to learn, grow, innovate, and succeed. Of course, this will impact the whole organizational setup, from the organizational structure to operating models, from leadership approaches to HR practices. But in that change lies the opportunity to embrace an agile mindset and tackle the much-needed transformation.

In many cases, the pandemic halted or even destroyed prior transformation efforts. For example, companies have once again become more siloed because digital work reduced interactions across the organization.

Some companies still hope a return to the office will solve most problems. And while collocated work may alleviate some, it will not be the magic potion they anticipate. Virtual work is here to stay, and many of today’s challenges are not purely due to COVID; the pandemic only exposed them. Organizations need to find an operating and leadership model fit for a hybrid future. An all-or-nothing approach will no longer fly.

Organizations will look at HR to tackle the massive post-pandemic challenges from declining performance and engagement to the unprecedented mental health crisis and the ‘Great Resignation’ (employees leaving organizations in masses).

HR naturally focused on getting through the pandemic for the past two years. And sometimes, the ‘Crisis of the Day’ was so demanding that it was difficult to look ahead. Now, it is more than time to shift from a transactional to a transformational approach. Companies that 1) kept an eye on the future and 2) stayed true to agile values throughout the pandemic certainly have a leg up.

As employees and companies alike are ready for new beginnings, the real work for HR starts. We are dedicated to helping organizations embrace Business Agility through modern HR – and we are for you.

Yours truly,

Fabiola Eyholzer
Chief Executive Officer
Just Leading Solutions LLC