Looking back on 2024: Growth, connection, and inspiration
As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on an incredible year filled with opportunities to support personal and professional growth. It’s been a year where I’ve not only shared insights but also learnt a great deal from the people I’ve had the privilege of working with.
Through writing, consulting, speaking and training, my focus remains to help companies/firms and their people thrive. This year, three of my most-read articles highlighted recurring themes I observed across my work: feedback as an essential tool for growth, the power of professional relationships, and the key to long-term client loyalty. Each of these resonated strongly with readers, offering actionable strategies and fresh perspectives on familiar challenges.
Here’s a summary and links to the full articles whether you read them and want a reminder or if you didn’t get the opportunity.
Article 1. Feedback for better development
One of my most popular articles this year explored how feedback is not just a skill but a cornerstone for development. Providing and receiving feedback effectively is a challenge for many, yet it’s essential for personal and professional growth.
A standout learning for me this year was when delivering a workshop on this topic for Heads of Department in a law firm that their main barrier to giving developmental feedback was fear they wouldn’t be liked, rather than my expectation that it was about upsetting people. I’m pleased to say the feedback was that the workshop helped them move forward and deliver more honest and effective appraisals. Do you have a barrier to giving the feedback you need to?
In this article, I shared practical techniques for framing feedback positively, focusing on specific behaviours rather than generalisations. I also highlighted how fostering a feedback-rich culture can empower teams to communicate openly and grow together.
This was a recurring theme in many of the training sessions I delivered this year as it of course crosses over with many of my other training topics. It’s clear that feedback, when done well, is pivotal for organisational and individual success.
2. Building positive professional relationships
Another popular article among readers was one on cultivating positive professional relationships. In a world increasingly defined by hybrid working and digital connections, developing meaningful relationships remains vital.
In this article, I discussed strategies to strengthen workplace relationships, such as active listening, empathy, and mutual respect. I also shared insights into how strong professional bonds contribute to individual success and the workplace environment, as well as improved organisational performance
Throughout the year, I’ve seen first-hand how prioritising relationships can transform workplace dynamics. Whether through mentoring programs or raising people’s awareness of the importance of doing so and equipping them with the skills, investing in people always yields meaningful returns.
3. What keeps clients coming back
This article delved into the secret behind long-term client relationships: trust, consistency, and a genuine commitment to delivering value. Reflecting on my own experiences, I emphasised how understanding client needs and adapting to them is central to long-term success.
This theme was particularly relevant during my ongoing work with organisations in 2024. As businesses navigated change, the ability to adapt and provide consistent support proved essential. I always want to look at how I can work with my clients more meaningfully and deliver more value. This is essential for service-based businesses to be successful.
Celebrating success: A memorable testimonial
One of the highlights of 2024 was receiving some great feedback on a mentoring programme that I helped a Finance department to start and run over 2 years. This initiative was designed to help individuals develop their careers. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to witness the growth and success of the programme participants.
Usha Ganesan, Chief Finance Operations Officer at Kindred:
"Joanna developed a tailored course with her unique teaching style to help our aspiring people master some key mentoring skills. She worked with us over a period of 24 months on a mentoring program where she taught mentors and mentees through different cohorts how they could effectively use those mentoring skills to adapt to the environment and culture of the workplace for better productivity. We worked very hard with our candidates on active listening and the ability to provide constructive feedback to name a few areas of focus. The results were positive, and we saw a significant improvement in employee performance, higher NPS scores on people development metrics and increased productivity in the finance team.
I highly recommend Joanna’s services for the positive outcome it has had on our people and the organisation as a whole. Her flexible approach, great listening skills and knowledge sharing made our experience with Joanna a memorable one."
This testimonial underscores the value of tailored, people-centric approaches to professional development, and it motivates me to continue looking at how I can help clients more meaningfully in 2025. Work doesn’t exist in isolation; we work for and with others, so spending time on developing the skills to work well with others in all professional situations is essential for organisational and individual.
Looking ahead to 2025
As I reflect on the past year, I’m grateful for the privilege of the connections I’ve made and the development I’ve seen amongst the people I’ve worked with. I’m eager to see what 2025 brings and look forward to working with more individuals and organisations in the coming year. I’m excited that it will be the first full year in four with no major house renovation work!
I’m keen to expand my work on improving business development in the legal and accountancy sectors to achieve revenue growth. It saddens me to see the many missed opportunities in these sectors, to grow firms and fulfil potential.
If you’re looking to enhance your team’s skills, develop professional working relationships, improve workplace dynamics, or achieve greater professional growth in 2025, I’d love to help.
Get in touch to discuss how we can work together to achieve your goals. What will 2025 have in store?