At PeopleFirst, we engage with leaders across all types of industries—non-profits, private enterprises,  and public service agencies. Across the board, we are hearing about the challenges of operating in  today’s rapidly changing work environment. Leaders and employees are experiencing significant shifts in  agendas, structures, technologies, and ideologies that are a) bringing new opportunities and challenges  to their workplace, and b) disrupting priorities, business models, and economic outlooks, all at the same  time. Leaders and employees are wrestling with uncertainty, and searching for the best ways to adapt to  and navigate this new and evolving landscape.  

A Call to Action for Leaders 

All too often during challenging and uncertain times, investment in the “people” part of an organization  – the leaders, teams and individuals upon whom they depend for success- starts to take a back seat to  other operational priorities. When you consider that people are the single most influential force behind  any organization’s performance and ultimate success, this approach is somewhat counterintuitive. Investing in leadership, team and employee development isn’t just beneficial during these times, it’s  really a strategic necessity to fully leverage an organization’s performance potential. 

Here’s what we know: 

1. We know that humans don’t thrive during uncertainty. Uncertainty breeds disengagement, stress,  and misalignment. Neuroscience research shows that during uncertain times, employees crave a  sense of belonging (Relatedness) and recognition of their value to the organization (Status).  Investing in leadership and professional development can help counter anxiety and disengagement,  reinforcing employees’ sense of purpose and contribution. 


2. Research consistently shows organizations that prioritize people development see a strong and  measurable return on their investment (ROI). Proven benefits of investing in people are evident:
   
   Enhanced Engagement & Retention – People development initiatives help connect people and are highly valued by employees. A recent Gallup survey reveals that 87% of millennials (who  currently represent the largest segment of the workforce), consider "opportunities to learn and  grow" to be one of the top three factors influencing their decision to stay with a company.  Employees who feel valued, supported and connected are more engaged and less likely to leave,  reducing costly turnover - costs to recruit, downtime and lost productivity during onboarding,  and the unknown “fit” factor of integrating new employees to the team.  
   
   Improved Organization and Employee Adaptability & Resilience – During uncertain times,  people seek clarity, stability, and focus to move forward. Leadership, team and employee  development sessions bring people together and foster connection, collaboration and resilience.  They help promote communication, engagement, and interactions that reduce uncertainty, promote adaptability, assist employees in better understanding their roles and impact, and  equip individuals to navigate change more confidently.  

   Increased Productivity & Innovation – People development initiatives promote the  development of supportive networks and sharing of ideas that can help drive efficiency and  innovation. An organization that invests in its people in ways that foster collaboration, problem solving, and engagement inspires out-of-box thinking, helps teams to define and focus on  priorities, and creates ownership in achieving meaningful results. By investing in organizational  and people development during uncertain times, leaders can harness the diverse perspectives within their teams to tackle problems, strengthen resilience and adaptability, and enhance  innovation and effectiveness. 

   Stronger Organizational Culture – “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast!” (Peter Drucker) During  uncertain times, we often spend a lot of effort trying to create the best strategy to move  forward with, but ignore that even the best-designed strategy will likely fail if the company  culture doesn't support it. People and organizational development investments help foster  strong working cultures. When organizations intentionally foster a sense of purpose, value,  alignment and connection in their people through tools such as Systems Thinking, successful  strategy execution is more likely, and high performance, continuous improvement and “one team” mindsets emerge more readily.  

   Stronger Teams and Improved Results – Reinforcing shared purpose, strengthening  connections, creating conversations, and aligning team contributions with organizational goals  and priorities creates stronger teams, and more meaningful, focused results. 

   Enhanced Self-Awareness & Interpersonal Communication – Tools like 360° feedback, Insights  Discovery, and coaching improve self-awareness, autonomy, and collaboration, strengthening  alignment and efficiency. 

   Prevention of Burnout & Enabling Sustained Performance – Following Covey’s Sharpening the  Saw principle, investing in team-building, retreats, and professional development renews energy  and focus for long-term success. 

The new and emerging landscape we find ourselves working in is very much a call to action for all  leaders. During changing times, leaders have the opportunity to create and connect to a new future. To  do that, they will need strong, resilient teams, which don’t just happen. Organizations that prioritize  leadership, team and people development will not only weather uncertainty but will emerge stronger.  

At PeopleFirst, we are committed to helping organizations through these changing times. As a trusted  partner, we help organizations and leaders integrate highly regarded organizational development tools, processes and programs into their operations to enhance:  

Awareness – We equip individuals, teams and organizations with a deeper understanding of themselves,  their strengths, and their working dynamics. Through tools like Insights Discovery, 360° coaching, and  self-awareness programs, we help teams build clarity around their strengths, and the synergies that  emerge when they begin to understand each other and work more effectively together. 

Alignment – We facilitate working sessions and provide practical tools and processes to help  organizations connect their people to their vision and purpose with strategic priorities, work plan  development and appropriate training programs. Our work is based in robust leadership theory and  principles that target enhanced leadership capacity, aligned resources and efforts, improved team  effectiveness, organizational resilience, and effective strategic planning and change management  practices. 

Achievement – We provide professional facilitation and coaching services to help organizations and  teams achieve higher levels of performance and sustain their success in an ever-changing landscape.  We support organizations in embedding systems and practices that promote a continuous improvement  mindset and approach, while helping them adapt to change, and continue growing in an evolving  landscape. 

Let’s start the conversation. At PeopleFirst, we’re ready to help your organization navigate these times.  Reach out today to explore how we can support your journey.