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.
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.
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.
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.