Leadership in 2023: What Will Change?

We’re stepping into 2023 and, as our business plans for the year are already approved, we could use some predictions for ourselves. Management, leadership, working landscape — what should we expect, and how do we navigate through this?

Upcoming recession, flexibility as a new standard, team centricity, and leading with values — the new trends I see to be the most relevant ones for 2023. Let’s dive in and give them a detailed look.

Surviving the Economic Uncertainty

The recession perspective becomes more visible every month. This means we should be prepared to omit high expenses and cut costs at some point. We may already be thinking of ways to spare wisely. But there is something definitely worth our investments — our teams.

This economic downturn is already different from the one we saw in 2008, so don’t expect to find yourself in a marketplace full of professionals craving for jobs. Retention is your word for 2023.

Creating a stable workplace and gaining a team’s loyalty — is what’s needed from a leader right now.

Value-Based Leadership Is a New Black

The last couple of years clearly showed us that the times of a job being just a job are over. People want their efforts to be meaningful, and for 9 out of 10 people, it is more important than the amount of money they get.

To be productive, inspired, and loyal to a certain company, employees need to know the purpose of what they’re doing. And here’s where an effective leader steps up. All of us have once come to business to make an impact and change the world.

Leaders of the new age are those who will be able to inspire workers with their vision, make them see why their work matters, and encourage them to move toward a big goal with you.

Being Flexible in a Hybrid World

We have already won the challenge of switching to a remote mode. 2023 is a year of a hybrid model. I do not expect the tech industry to return to a pre-Covid model, as 95% of workers now consider a remote work option to be a must.

Still, a lot of specialists prefer to visit the office a couple of times a week, for the sake of productivity and communication.

As leaders, we will need to apply our best practices from the pandemic time — effective internal communication, time management, and organizational details, like video conferencing or a desk booking system. Flexibility is probably our new norm for good.

Set the Team’s Emotional Well-Being as Your Focus

Toxic working environments should become extinct. Period. And if you have already invested in creating a positive atmosphere in your team, the best plan would be to go on with it in 2023.

We have already discussed the importance of retention, and in terms of economic downturn and uncertainty, what your team will need the most is psychological safety.

To be effective as a senior manager or a business owner, we’ll need empathy and the best soft skills to establish strong corporate ethics and internal communication.

This year, leaders are being tested — on our ability to adapt, grow, and develop despite the obstacles, inspire and lead people to meaningful goals. And whoever passes this test will probably find themselves on the top, possibly — by the end of the year.