2020 saw something of a boom in executive coaching. CEOs and senior management found themselves trying to navigate a turbulent, pandemic-struck world, with no one to turn to for guidance. Coaches offered calm, objective support and helped leaders to develop survival strategies on the fly.

Compensation planning for the year ahead always involves a certain amount of guesswork. You have to try to anticipate several variables, from your company's performance to trends in the hiring market.

Video meetings have been commonplace for years, and the pandemic made them indispensable. Almost overnight, people had to get used to the Zoom meeting format: a Brady Bunch-style tableau of their colleagues’ faces, with speakers battling for control of the mic. After a while, it got exhausting.

Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, people spoke about the idea of a “New Normal” without ever really defining what it means. Everyone knew that the pandemic had changed things forever, and that we would all have to learn new ways of working and communicating. This idea of the New Normal acted as kind of a placeholder, representing all those processes that we would figure out in the future.

This year, we all learned a lot about ourselves. Employers got to see people at their best, showing astonishing reserves of courage, commitment, and resilience. People got to see how quickly their employers could innovate and respond to an unprecedented crisis.

In a normal year, your employees’ holiday schedule wouldn’t be a big concern. You might politely ask where they’re going, but it’s not business-critical for you to discuss their travel plans.