As December comes to a close, I find it rewarding to take time to reflect. The main lesson I gleaned this year was to find purpose in the pause. In the business world, there is an abundance of pressure to make swift decisions and move quickly. Succumbing to this temptation can lead to unnecessary challenges, of course. 2024 reminded me that slowing down will set Stratos up for a successful future. 

There was a stretch of time this year where we were patiently waiting for the future to unfold. Key roles within the organization had opened up and we weren’t sure whether to press pause or leap into action on the hiring front. The natural tendency is to immediately fill the void, just like you would in a conversation. If silence sets in, one feels like they have to fill the void by saying something. In a way, we do the same in business. When you have big decisions to make, like with hiring, you feel like you have to act swiftly, but oftentimes it is prudent to take your time. 

With bringing on new team members, it’s important for us to ensure the person is a good culture fit. It can be tempting to temporarily overlook or not delve deep enough into the candidate when you’re trying to bring on new talent in a pinch. This temptation should be avoided at all costs, though, because it is a direct threat to a company’s culture. It sounds harsh, but it is that serious for Stratos. The importance of hiring for culture is something we hold tightly to, especially during challenging seasons.

This year has stretched us in many ways and allowed us to find purpose in the pause. At times, the team felt like they were at or above capacity but hung in there. The pause has proven beneficial for the team’s overall health in the long run, though, because it allowed us to identify right candidates instead of “right now” candidates. 

As I look back on 2024, I have learned there are times when waiting and letting the silence exist is necessary, even if doing so is uncomfortable. You’ll thank yourself later, trust me. If you don’t already, I encourage you to reflect on what the last 12 months have taught you. What lessons have you learned? How will those lessons impact the way you approach 2025?

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