Dear Beloved Readers,

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Welcome to 2025! May this year be a wonderful year for each and every one of you as you hone your skills to navigate a world that is changing faster and faster while some of the ancient wisdom remains the same.

I always like to kick off my year, with a time of quiet reflection, to look backward and reflect on lessons learned and experiences gained, then to cast my mind ahead and look at the world and the potential changes, innovations, and potential disruptors that can transform our lives. It is only then, that I decide where my focus will be for the year and when I set my goals before I proceed. This process has thus far proven to work well for me. What process do you follow?

As I focus on another year of working with leaders and their teams, I look forward to the adventures that await us as we navigate the challenges that the teams will confront with confidence and care, confidence that together the team can succeed and care and awareness that each team member will need to navigate their own personal and professional challenges.

To kickstart the process, I ask teams first to focus on obtaining clarity of purpose and ensuring alignment of all team members to the purpose. Check the energy levels of the team members concerning the team's purpose. Are they energized by the purpose? If not, what can they contribute that would shift their energy? Encourage conversation and input to craft the purpose. Then set clear smart goals, where team members are clear on what their respective roles and responsibilities are and what are expected of them. Also look at ways that team members can collaborate to create synergies, of ideas, processes, methodologies, and delivery of goals. Check the level of commitment that team members have to their success and the success of the team. Then as a leader check the team’s resilience to navigate the challenges and offer support upfront. This provides team members with the assurance that you are all in the same boat and together you will navigate towards your chosen destination.

A few years ago, I worked with the CEO and the executive team of a company that ranked fourth in the market. The CEO had a clear vision to be no 1. In the two years I spent with them, we crafted a journey that resulted in them becoming no 1 in their market. This was no easy feat, challenges had to be overcome, performance goals had to be achieved and courageous conversations had to be held, with collective pairs of eyes on the overall purpose to become the No1 in their market, whilst remaining a strong and cohesive team.

I always challenge my leaders to hold a mirror in their hands and to ask themselves: “How do I contribute to the problem?” A powerful reflection question, aimed to stretch the leader into decisive and meaningful action to bring about change, to create an environment for their team members to flourish. For my fellow quiz lovers, here is a picture of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat at 10 582 square kilometers. Following rain, a thin layer of dead calm water transforms the flat into the world's largest mirror 129km across. Imagine that reflection?

After ten years of practical research, I am happy to announce the launch of my book: Building high-performance Teams for Success. The book will be launched in March, whereafter it will be available for purchase. Please watch my website: www.marichenmortimer.com. Thank you to every team I have worked with thus far, you have been my gems on this journey.

Look out for my next newsletter, where I will keep you updated with some more exciting news on my side.

Finally, I wish you all wisdom as you embark on your respective life journeys this year, also living in kindness along the way, the glue that reminds us to be human. Looking forward to either seeing you or hearing from you.

Remember: You don’t get stronger by doing what you can. You get stronger by doing what you thought you couldn’t.

Warm regards, yours in coaching

Marichen M Mortimer

Team Experiences