Is anyone else like me, someone who regards the true New Year as September, and not January? Of course, this may be a throwback to school-days conditioning when a September new school year usually comprised ‘new’ teacher, shoes, pencil case, and classroom.
September in the Northern Hemisphere, offers a time of harvest, abundance, and gratitude for the spoils that will carry us through the impending winter months. The fields are ploughed, and the pungent manure is cast. I notice too, the leaves beginning to turn golden, and the ‘loveliness’ of ladybirds (the collective noun for a group of ladybirds is a ‘loveliness’ – who knew?) migrating to our window frames to secure a protected spot for their hibernation – until they emerge aphid-hungry in Spring. And as the days grow noticeably shorter, a chill wind invites an evening cardie.
All of this carries an unconscious devotion to the cycles and seasons of our lives. One in which we recognise the passing of the ‘outward and active’ seasons of Spring and Summer, being replaced by the ‘inward and reflective’ needs of Autumn and Winter. As I stand in this liminal September space, where Summer hands over responsibility and gifts of abundance to Autumn, I sense the energy change and the air smell crisper. September encourages reflection and interrupts being ‘out there’ to being ‘in here’, with a devotion to storing and restoring for the winter months ahead. In September, we devote ourselves to both buttoning up, and packing away Summer until next year, and preparing to literally restore; to collect to us what matters, set intentions for the coming seasons, and confirm what we must now become devoted to.
Devotion is a strong word in this context, and I use it deliberately. It is one of the characteristics of leadership that I am writing about in my new book. Devotion is an unwavering and unconditional attention to something that matters. It fuels deep commitment to a cause, thing or persons, and carries the will to deliver a satisfactory outcome. Devotion always shows up with two buddies: 1) tenacity (unhindered by expectations of duty or forced obligation), and 2) loyalty (which demonstrates an unconditional dedication to the delivery of the cause).
To me, this feels like the real reason that September feels like the New Year.
What has all of this got to do with leadership? September is a good time of year to refocus devotion towards personal and organisational intentions for future success. It is through becoming inward and reflective, that we seek and find the right strategic direction and intentions aligned to purpose. Let’s begin with the organisation…
Organisational Devotion
An organisation’s planning cycle is better served now and not in January. The inward and reflective seasons should be just that. Autumn allows space to get back to the roots of why you exist and to restore and renew, re-engage and regenerate. It is a time to reflect on Core Ideology (Purpose, Values and Conduct) and Desired Future (Vision, Mission, Goals and Strategies), and prepare the ground for breakthrough. ‘Business as usual’ (BAU) will of course continue in our service to others, but Autumn and Winter are critical times for leadership to devote focus to the roots and trunk of organisational strength for sustained success.
The Autumn planning cycle, if executed well, must include one third look back, and two thirds look forward. It begins with a review of Core Ideology and Desired Future. The Strategic Plan is then built with key stakeholders and from multi-dimensional involvement, inputs and data. If designed well to include breakthrough and BAU, functional and cross-cutting plans become aligned, and people objectives in support of strategy become clear. Ownership at all levels is critical and can be tested and tracked using RACI frameworks to aid decision-making and action. Trackers must feed upwards to test if each level of implementation is on track to achieve the next level up objectives. Tracking and reporting should (where possible) be digitised and pull, not push in its access.
I share the ‘Planning Process and Process of Planning’ below for clarity. The Planning Process defines the alignment of planning and implementation. The Process of Planning illustrates the timeline for planning and review.
By aligning to the natural cycles and energies of our Seasons, it offers leadership a more effective way to consider not only planning, but also competitive advantage, employee engagement and resultant energies. In my OD practice, those leadership teams that begin now, and are ready to rise in January will reap big rewards at their next annual review next September.
Personal Devotion
As you move into the September new year, you may have an underlying sense of anticipation, intention and desire for change. The tug to consider your intentions for personal growth and development in the next year may be front of mind.
Begin by reflecting and gathering to you the harvest of your experience, expertise and areas of excellence in the past year. What have you achieved? What has brought you joy? What do you no longer want? What might you be tugged towards? This is a good time to conduct a Personal SWOT analysis, or consider your personal value proposition in relation to your current role. It is worth reflecting on the Development Umbrella, Worklife Wheel, and Development Planning Toolkit, to highlight where development attention needs to be paid in the short, medium and long-term. For example, you may wish to build a personal identity or brand, change career, or build a new portfolio career for your 3rd3rd. Whatever your motivation, begin by scoring the development umbrella below to assess where to invest personal and leadership development time.
September is a good time to build your Personal Development Map, but the map is not the terrain, and when the going gets tough, many give up. Before you head off, engage an experienced and qualified Executive Coach, who is adept in this territory. She will help you to explore your enablers and disablers of success, potential paths, goals and intentions, and be alongside as your wing-woman (or man), towards your desired future and potential. Take time to explore ‘Preparing for Coaching & Mentoring‘ and then get in touch to begin your coaching journey towards your most credible and incredible self.
