This year we learned a lot.  We learned that we, as individuals, are vulnerable to threats and also very resilient when facing change. Most of us spent a lot of time working at home, which has changed the way we live and helped us become comfortable with the digital world of work. The biggest word of the year is “resilience.” We learned how to build a resilient company, a resilient team, and a resilient personal life.

DDI’s new leadership research shows that employees have more confidence in leaders than they have in 20 years. This new level of confidence comes from a new mindset in business. Company leaders have to listen, take care of people, and build a business that helps everyone be successful, regardless of individual situations.

We also learned to be agile with a lower case “a.” For years, companies have been talking about Agile methodology practices such as flattening organizations and working in teams. This year, agile happened at scale.  HR leaders have told me their companies moved faster than they thought possible. Things like digital transformation and the redesign of performance management happened in months. We learned that a focus on helping employees be productive, safe, and included is really the core of a transformation.