I’m a member of a group of rockstar business leaders who support and challenge each other. Recently the group challenged me to reflect on what I’ve learned this past year and to use that information to guide my leadership for the rest of the year.

I do some of my best thinking in my little garden. I call my yard my therapist, since that’s where I go to mull over my problems and challenges. And I usually get some good feedback! One day while checking in with my therapist I came up with some great answers.

What have I learned this year?
This year has been anything but status quo. However, our experience and wisdom have guided us through challenging times. Therefore, the first lesson I’ve learned this year is that we bring valuable capabilities to our clients. In other words, we know what we’re doing and we know what works. We have 15 years of experience–that’s got to count for something, right? With two new implementation contractors as clients, GHE has proven that we are a dependable, knowledgable and versatile partner who knows how to get the job done.

Along these lines, another lesson learned is that systems, processes and procedures matter. We follow an EOS–enterpreneurial operating system–that ensures we all share the same vision and values. It also ensures our team is always rowing in the same direction, a term that I love because it implies shared goals, momentum and teamwork. Our EOS requires us to have processes and procedures for pretty much everything we do. That results in efficiency, quality control, and repeatability, all of which are excellent traits of a successful business!

The most important lesson I’ve learned this year is that we have the right butts in the right seats. This is actually another key part of a successful EOS. My leadership team is the strongest it’s ever been. Every day I see commitment, ownership and dedication from our leaders. And that trickles down to the rest of the organization. The single biggest reason we’ve had a successful year is NOT because these have been easy months, but because we have the best leadership team.

I’m using this reflection to inform my decisions for the rest of the year. It feels exciting and empowering, and hopefully it ignites some meaningful thoughts about your work too. I love discussing these topics so please reach out if you’re interested in deeper conversation! And enjoy this photo of a bouquet I made from my garden!