Lived Leadership in Action: Timeless Lessons I’m Bringing into 2024

As the new year unfolds, we find ourselves surrounded by a familiar chorus of self-improvement messages. Everywhere we turn, there are calls for new goals, ambitions, and various forms of personal and professional development. It’s a season of renewal, often marked by the pursuit of change and the quest for betterment. But amidst this whirlwind of ‘new year, new me mantras, I offer leaders a different approach – to take a reflective pause, and ask yourself a vital question: What will you do more of this year that has already proven successful for you in the past?

This article aims to shift the focus from constantly chasing what’s new to appreciating what’s already working. In our society’s relentless drive for achievement, we cannot overlook the significance of lessons learned, victories achieved, and triumphs to be repurposed.

Carrying forward timeless leadership lessons of 2023 into 2024 can only strengthen the foundation we build for new ideas and unchartered territories. Taking stalk of our past successes and learnings is equally as important as chasing new ones.

Here are the four timeless lessons from 2023 that I am carrying forward into 2024.

Timeless Lesson #1: Bring Your Whole Self to the Table

Your company, team, family, and health all rely on you to be you. In other words, being authentically frees up valuable energy to show up in all areas of your life. Being who you are and embodying what you believe in matters; this personally gets me out of bed with a bounce!

Last year, a new employee questioned if our policy of embracing mistakes and learning from them was genuine. This was an opportunity to revisit the idea that learning from error improves the future. I encouraged them to verify my stance with longer-serving team members. They later told me how enlightened this experience was. However, their initial response hit home when they said, “I’m glad you’re this open and can say these things confidently because many of our new-to-industry people are worried they won’t get things right, which makes them nervous to do anything.”

This interaction reinforced the importance of consistently expressing and demonstrating my core beliefs as a leader. This approach is palpable in our energized workplace and reminded me that employees will always validate if our words match our actions.

Timeless Lesson #2: Progressive Leaders Guide Change

Embracing a progressive style of leadership is essential in the energy transition. Society demands solutions that balance security, affordability, and sustainability. I continue to find inspiration from leaders like Chris Smith and Jordan Pechie, the vision of the Haisla Nation, and innovative companies like Hai Sea. Their collective efforts are transforming the maritime industry through significant impact reductions and meaningful reconciliation efforts. 

A defining moment for me was participating in a panel at the Indigenous Partnership Success Showcase featuring Ed Ross from Hai Sea Marine. His insights from his personal struggles while working at sea, to his enthusiasm for Hai Sea’s eco-friendly initiatives, highlighted the transformative impact of these efforts. His pride in seeing the Haisla community, including his family, join Hai Sea for better opportunities was moving.

This experience underscored the vital role of progressive leadership in achieving progressive outcomes in BC’s energy sector. It emphasized the need for generational economic reconciliation with First Nations and learning from them to become better environmental stewards. There's just so much more to do!

Timeless Lesson #3: Personal Relationships Energize Our Professional Lives

Do the things you love with the people you love. The power of connection has been a game-changer for me – from sharing my passion for Movember with my son Alex, to expanding my music taste to include Taylor Swift (“It’s a love story, baby, just say, YES”) with my daughter Beth. Reconnecting with long-time friends from the East Coast, including Andrew Sargeant and Tom Ryan, reaffirmed the joy of meaningful friendships that have substance.

These moments of fulfilment in our personal lives are crucial for our success as leaders. They establish a stable and nurturing foundation that positively influences our professional endeavours. A memorable conversation last year between myself and a direct report about my self-care plans for the exciting yet demanding year ahead in 2024 was a wake-up call.

That one moment of direct human connection and care reminded me of the often-forgotten truth: we are all people including me, and we must give back to ourselves. This conversation reminded me that self-care, through connection, is recharging and would help me feel more ready for the challenges and opportunities of 2024.

Timeless Lesson #4: It Takes a Diverse & Inclusive Orchestra of Talent

Starting up a mega project requires an orchestra of talent. I am incredibly proud of our success in creating a capable and diverse workplace by attracting local and global expertise. The work now is to explore and realize the role of inclusion, both personally and professionally. I’m grateful to learn from great leaders like Tariro Mpoperi, drawing inspiration from people like Teresa Waddington, and growing through time spent with thought leaders like Erin Davis.

A pivotal moment last year involved team members questioning whether their hiring was influenced by their gender, race, or nationality. At first, I was taken aback, but then I asked if they could say more and help me understand what they had experienced. This concern arose due to our frequent discussions on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) and our efforts to understand and manage biases, especially in hiring. Through detailed conversations, I assured them of two things: our hiring is a competitive process looking for the best candidate, and our philosophy in new industry talent development was to hire based on character and train for skill.

I learned here or relearned, that achieving diversity is perhaps the easier part, but the real work is cultivating true inclusion. It’s about creating a sense of belonging where every team member feels valued, and our collective behaviours create a culture of learning, care, and results.

How about you? What lived leadership lessons are you taking with you into 2024?