Leadership lessons from the Year of the Wood Snake

Over one of our Brilliant Breakfasts, we brought together a group of leaders with significant change on the horizon this year. Together, we discussed all things snake – and asked how their symbolic and physical qualities could help us better lead our teams and shape our organisational agendas in the year ahead. Read on for a full recap, or download the visual summary here. 

The 29th January marks the start of a new lunar year, welcoming the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac. Each year is associated with one of twelve animals and one of five natural elements. When these are combined, they provide the year with a set of unique characteristics that not only ‘flavour’ the year for all of us, but also influence each of us individually – affecting how our birth zodiac (the animal we were born under) will experience the year ahead.

None of us need the stars to tell us that uncertainty is looming this year – seismic shifts in geo-politics, a rocky economic outlook, the pace of AI and the ongoing back-to-work debate are all factors impacting our professional (and personal) lives.  But we did turn to the ancient wisdom of the Chinese zodiac recently to reflect on how we might thrive through this uncertain landscape – using it as a meditative lens to ask ourselves what we could learn from the often misunderstood sign of the snake, and the grounding element of wood.

1. Patience and strategy over impulsivity

 

It’s only February, and we’re already seeing how rapid tech advancements, economic shifts, and geo-political tensions are creating everyday turmoil. Leaders who act impulsively risk making decisions that may not account for ripple effects and long-term impact. 

The snake – watchful and intentional - reminds us that patience and strategic thinking will be essential as businesses navigate the complexities unfurling around us. Instead of chasing after immediate trends or short-termist outcomes,  leaders need to focus on seeing how patterns unfold, staying focused on steady, sustainable growth whilst planning for future disruptions. 

It’s about playing the long game, rather than chasing quick wins.

 

2. Adaptability and flexibility

The wood element adds a layer of adaptability to the snake’s usual characteristics. Wood is about renewal and resilience, and leaders can draw from this energy to remain flexible when faced with a rapidly changing and chaotic environment. 

Leaders who are able to see multiple futures unspooling simultaneously, and can update their opinions on the go, will find themselves better positioned to lead their teams through challenges, especially in fast-paced environments.

It’s about holding multiple possible futures in your mind, rather than being fixated on a single outcome. 

3. Wisdom through reflection

Snakes are symbols of wisdom, and the Year of the Wood Snake encourages leaders to take time for reflection. In the age of information overload, we’re faced with an ever-growing amount of data and decisions to make at an even greater pace. 

We need to slow down to cut through the noise and identify what truly matters – or risk missing the deeper insights and opportunities that may open and guide teams down the right paths. Instead of rushing forward with decisions, effective leaders will spend time thinking deeply about past experiences, lessons learned, and how to apply that wisdom to a greater purpose. 

It’s about resisting the urge to react to the chaos, staying open to past lessons and keeping the bigger picture in view.

4. Building strong, loyal relationships

As the back-to-office debate rages and our top talent is getting less loyal, our organisations are becoming increasingly siloed, fractured and unwieldy. Since the pandemic, we have witnessed the degrading of the base element that made organisations successful – strong relationships.

In the Year of the Wood Snake, leaders need to dedicate time to building deeper relationships with their teams, creating an environment where collaboration and mutual respect are actively wired in – despite physical distance. Intentional effort is needed to make moments together joyful and valuable above merely mandating a return to the office. This will increase morale, productivity and quality of thinking.

It’s about facilitating new, deeper bonds – not transactional cultures. 

5. Being in stealth mode

Snakes are quiet problem-solvers: they move through the undergrowth, often going largely unnoticed. They are masters at managing their energy and move without drawing unnecessary attention to themselves. 

The Year of the Wood Snake encourages leaders to remain graceful under pressure and in the face of adversity, finding creative solutions to problems without being overtly confrontational or putting themselves in the limelight. Leaders who do this regulate the emotions around them, and  free up their teams to move forward without burning energy in the drama – something we all need less of in the year ahead.

It’s about creating seamless progress, not wasting energy or succumbing to hype.

 

Which quality will you adopt as you lead this year? 

Get in touch and let us know – or reach out if you need help developing leadership skills and creating a positive team environment. 

For a sneak peek at our approach, and how our Brilliant Breakfast: Year of the Wood Snake went, watch the video below (live snakes included!). You can also sign up for our future events using the form below. 

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