UPPO's 2023 Reflection Reel
Energizing Beginnings.
January marked the kickoff of 2023 with a team strategy planning session and a very fun and memorable day of team photos. The energy of being together, setting ambitious goals, and envisioning the year ahead set the tone and set our pathway!
Ferocious February in the Bay.
Two of our team are based in the Hawkes Bay and had a terrible time through the cyclone and recovery this year. Lou in particular was in an area which was cut off for weeks and still see the impact daily. On the bright side of this, there was huge opportunity to share what we do at UPPO in helping those in need during times of struggle.
Transforming through March.
Kirsty headed to the Transform HR Conference, in the fabulous Las Vegas with the intention of seeing what was going out in the world beyond NZ borders. Mental health concerns and the need for sustainable thinking in the workforce emerged as key themes, challenging the status quo and prompting critical reflections on the future of work. As jobs continue to change and develop, what are the skills people need to still have jobs and be employable? A world where jobs are all done by tech will leave humans purposeless, contactless and isolated. It really highlighted where we are at as a business community.
Finishing Touches in April.
UPPO wound up a year-long project with a nationwide client, working with leadership teams, production teams, executive leadership and divisional leadership teams across the country. Our focus: transforming conversations through the use of TTI Success Insights and the Emotional Culture Deck. Shifting perspectives within the organisation, the project marked a significant step towards embracing new approaches. Some phenomenal work was done within the organisation and the results will be seen for years to come.
May was all About Wellbeing in the Workplace.
We piloted our new resilience and wellbeing programme with a tech business. Seeing more clients wanting to have wellbeing conversations and taking our approach of understanding the brain’s response and the chemicals/hormones at play has been it clear how this directly impacts businesses ability to perform. Creating a sense of control and a plan for the tough times has huge value to employees.
We Navigated Healthcare in June.
Collaborating with a private hospital's senior management team, UPPO incorporated the TTI programme alongside ongoing goal-setting and accountability sessions. This holistic approach worked in addressing the unique challenges faced within the team through the healthcare sector.
The UPPO Relaunch was Unveiled in July!
Vargo+Lewis became UPPO: Unlocking the Potential in People and Organisations. It was a journey to find a name that felt like us and it came to me in bed one night. Our focus on the mutual benefit between individuals and businesses succeeding was nicely captured in our own little acronym. We have continue the journey standing on the shoulders of the giants who started our people oriented business.
August was Focused on Change Management.
UPPO helped leaders understand the psychology and reasons for how people respond to change (from what our brain does) to using the Emotional Culture Deck to focus in on how we want people to feel (and not feel) during period of uncertainty and change. This work has proved very popular with so much change happening, including restructures, in the last few months.
September was Another Personal Highlight for Kirsty.
Listening to James Clear, author of the famous book `Atomic Habits’ was great. Hearing stories to connect the learning, along with Practical application throughout the session was effective and inspiring, providing valuable insights, and reinforcing UPPO's commitment to continuous learning. Sign up to James’ weekly e-newsletters if you like a little reminder in your inbox of some simple habit related reflections each week.
October was About Outplacement and Coaching.
As organisational restructuring unfortunately surged, UPPO career services were heavily utilized, providing outplacement and coaching programmes for organisations and individuals needing support. These have always been a core offering for us, and getting the privilege of supporting people through those challenging times is always inspiring and rewarding.
Empowered in November!
UPPO was asked to run a session at the Women in Leadership Summit in Wellington. Two full days of incredibly inspiring speakers discussing a range of topics, diverse perspectives, and networking with an outstanding calibre of leaders from all over the country. It was Kirsty’s 4th year attending and second year speaking, and comes highly recommended from the UPPO team for a step out of your day to day to take in great content. Speakers included the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Mai Chen and Naila Hassan to name a few.
Final Thoughts for December.
UPPO's 2023 journey has been nothing short of a year of evolution, resilience, and impactful moments, we have had great fun partnering with some incredible organisations and individuals in unlocking potential and fostering growth and just cannot wait to get stuck into 2024 after a lovely relaxing break.