One of the most profound lockdown leadership lessons I've learned, with 2020 hindsight, is the importance of staying connected. I've always known this to be true from a leadership perspective. The aloof leader, locked behind doors, not connecting and not engaging, is rarely effective. 20 years as a CEO of six different companies taught me the power and importance of connection. Yet this year it has been profoundly highlighted to me, and the leaders that I serve.

So, what do I mean by connection? I’ll leave that to the venerable Brené Brown, who said, “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”  That is a very high bar for any commercial environment, and unfortunately not even close in most.  But I think we should all be on that journey as leaders, albeit that Brown’s definition is the ideal.