The new year is here at last. This time last year, we were happily looking forward to 2021, thinking it could not be a more challenging year than 2020. What will 2022 look like?

I’ve been listening to and reading a lot of expert opinions. The consensus is that 2022 will also likely be a roller coaster year with more uncertainty. We are getting better at managing uncertainty, but it can still surprise us. What can we do to prepare?

This is a good time to review how things went last year, with wider work issues and with the impacts of Covid- 19. Some of the things to consider will include:

How did you know what was happening? Was one person in the team delegated with keeping abreast of the information, reviewing it, deciding what was relevant, and sharing it with those who needed to know?

How did you remain in contact with your team? How did you keep them nformed, how did you maintain morale and the team ethos?

How well prepared were you with the resources you needed? This might include the equipment required to work from home, internet connections, and items that were hard to get during the lockdowns.

How did you cope when products you needed weren’t available?

How did you communicate with your customers?

Reviewing what went well and what didn’t will enable you to face the year with more confidence. In my workplace, after the first lockdown in 2020, we identified who needed what equipment and listed it. The list was updated when staff left or started so that it was current. This meant that, when we went into lockdown with a few hours’ notice, we could adapt very quickly.

We also agreed on a time when we would all meet virtually and what platform that would take. Occasionally, someone missed a meeting, but they had to be in touch with one of the team, so we knew they were okay.

Reviewing, planning and preparation are the keys to making uncertainty less traumatic. It’s sensible to start early.