We’re nearly done; 2023 is rolling to a close. There is much to celebrate!
Client Success
Special congratulations to Alison Percival who was recently promoted to CEO of the Tradies Canberra. I met Alison some 15 years ago, when she was an emerging leader at the Tradies. I have worked with Alison and many of her teams at the Tradies over this time, building leadership capability and culture. Alison has always been passionate about culture and leadership, and is an astute implementer of what she reads and learns. Congratulations Alison!
As for me, I’m savouring the fruits of much labour, and spending time dreaming and planning to be of service and enjoy creative fun for 2024. I share a little of that in this month’s end of the year round up.
Me, my two fiction book babies, and Betty!
First, as promised, here are the reflection tools for you.
End of year reflection and planning tool
Here is a deeper dive into reviewing performance: this is a new template I developed for my Amplifiers group and thought would be useful for you too.
Here are the overview and brief explanation videos:
Amplifiers Hub: Lead Performance Overview of Review
Overview of lead performance - review
Here is the reflection template
Personal Reflection on 2023
Theme word
My theme word for the year was FELIX, to embody the idea of luxuriating and being completely relaxed, like a cat.
There was definitely a sense of space this year. The pace was a lot more relaxed than in the previous 10 years which have been a frenzy of travel, delivering training, running strategy and culture workshops, hosting my community Amplifiers, and writing books.
Clients and Travel
I loved the client work I did this year. There was a nice variety of facilitation - of culture and strategy, leadership training, and outdoor experiential leadership work. I got my pack back on and got out into the bush!
Big thanks to my clients:
Various ACT public service agencies - the amount of work you do is astounding
Australian National University - a hard-working, pioneering team.
City Renewal Authority - amazing what this agency is accomplishing for the ACT!
Communities at Work - good people doing great work
Cord Civil - good humans building safe infrastructure
Foster Johnson - an inspiring team of lawyers
Insurance House - focused professionals building great teams
Karralika - dedicated professionals supporting people through drug and alcohol recovery
Local Government Professionals in Victoria who invited me to speak at their conference on the Future of Leadership
National Irrigators Council - committed to effective representation and advocacy
NSW Department of Primary Industries for the great leadership programs
Outback Initiatives and the programs I was privileged to work on - Peter Cullen Trust Science to Policy, Kimberley Population Health Unit, and two awesome clients from Singapore
Princes Court Homes - a burgeoning organisation that is a valued pillar of the community
Relationships Australia - heart-centered leaders supporting the community
The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Regenerate Program we delivered through Cuppacumbalong
The Leadership Sphere and the awesome leadership training work we do with the Australian Sports Commission
Tradies Canberra - fun people creating a place where everyone belongs.
It’s such a privilege to do this work with committed, passionate professionals who are working hard to make a dent in the universe and create a better world for us all. Thank you for trusting your people with me.
On the road
Two trips to Orange, two trips to Melbourne, three trips to Western Australia, a trip to Japan (skiing), and a trip to Canada (family). Not too many carbon offsets needed this year!
Achievements, milestones, and insights
I published the prequel, Terra Blanca Insurrection, as an ebook, print book, and digitally narrated audiobook. I am pretty happy with it, but it took way longer than I expected to produce it. I thought it would be out in July!
I also finished the draft of the sequel to The Olympus Project, Olympus Bound, and this *should* be ready by March/April 2024. This book was so much fun to write! And the next book in the series is also underway. Writing about hypothetical leadership challenges is easier than dealing with real ones, but equally as challenging.
The Olympus Project won a GOLD MEDAL at the Readers' Favorites Book Awards! I never expected to get an award for my debut novel and I am chuffed.
I recorded 39 interviews and nine solo episodes for a total of 48 episodes for the year on the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast. We have over 338 episodes so far, and a fabulous line up for 2024. So much fun and such incredible insights. Be sure to check out last episode, going out on 21 December, for the wrap up.
What’s next for 2024?
I am dedicating my professional work to leaders and teams who want to progress their strategy and be fit for the future. I love facilitating strategy workshops with forward thinking teams.
Likewise, I love working alongside executives to build a strong culture. I look forward to retreats and facilitated sessions next year.
I am creating special experiences for leaders to come together, take time to reflect and connect. These are called The Leadership Conclave, and the first one is Friday March 1st, 2024, in the ACT. Please join us!
Books - I have two in mind, both on the themes of power and leadership. I intend to produce a nonfiction book on Power and the Future of Leadership, and the fourth book in the Gaia series. Both intend to help you think more deeply about the future, the leadership required, and the emotional and mental work to do to be ready for what’s coming.
Thanks for reading and leading this year. Leadership is a calling and a privilege that requires courage and commitment daily. Thank you for the work that you do.
Live well, lead well.
P.S. My latest leadership-book-in-disguise-as-a-novel, Terra Blanca- Insurrection, is available now! You can read the ebook or listen to the audiobook for free as a subscriber to Bookish. Prefer a hold-in-your-hands paperback signed by moi, the author? Order a copy here.
About Zoë Routh, Canberra leadership futurist
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to explore what's coming and what it means for leadership of the future.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture for the future with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a leadership futurist science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing big ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.