Even as we were still recovering from the first pandemic in the midst of the digital age, we found ourselves, in 2022, absurdly caught up in a war without purpose or reason. For many companies, 2022 was a year in which initial forecasts had to be adjusted every month due to the unpredictability brought on by the war, coupled with the sharp rise in energy and food prices. Most companies managed to stay afloat (some even grew), largely thanks to our collective need to feel our freedom restored after nearly 24 months of imposed semi-lockdown.
But what can we expect from 2023?
As this new year begins, we are facing rampant inflation, skyrocketing bank interest rates, and a more than predictable decline in individuals’ purchasing power and businesses’ ability to invest.
But things will be much worse if we give up, if we lose heart, or if we think there’s nothing within our power to challenge the status quo. It’s time to believe in ourselves and our abilities, and to turn difficulties into challenges and achievable goals.
In crises and difficulties there are two types of people, those who cry, and those who sell paper tissues. In 2023, companies will need much more of the last strain.
In a market that will inevitably be characterized once again by a focus almost exclusively on price, the most successful companies will be those whose employees are more willing to create value—whether through the attention they devote to each customer or through empathy and a willingness to help customers grow their businesses. Value creation will still depend heavily on the digital leap, which will enable all stakeholders to increase productivity and, consequently, save time and money.
Internal teams must be 200% focused on meeting customer needs, without ever losing sight of the challenges employees will face this year. It is essential to listen to people, understand their problems, and be the first line of support in every way. Companies are a reflection of the human condition in which their employees live, and it is necessary to have healthy companies at every level.
Commitment, mutual support, and the desire to thrive will be the watchwords of 2023.
... and we will be there to conquer it.
“Never fight until you have to. But when it´s time to fight, you fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noha’s Ark… and brother, it’s starting to rain.”
Christopher Woods