2025 marks an anniversary for me: it has been five years since I left strategic dealmaking and established myself as an independent psychologist. The beginning was weird, to put it mildly: corona shut down the world, and many planned activities had to be cancelled. I was unfortunate and experienced an accident, and had to stay home for months. Definitely not a start anyone would wish for, the goals and dreams almost disappeared out of sight.
As strenght returned, so did customers. I found my core services: support for wellbeing programmes for teams/workplaces and individual sparring. These tasks fit my professional profile, experience and personal joy of working.
Upon entry to 2025 my world looks something like this:
Many are experimenting with self-leadership, and the workplace is a place for self-realization, not just doing the work. Psychological safety is requested everywhere, not just in academic or creative workplaces. It is understood, that a team is not only a resource to fulfil the leader’s vision, but a group of individuals each with own unique contribution.
I am meeting the “backside of the medal” as a clear theme, in wellbeing programmes and sparring alike: problems in setting boundaries and expressing clear expecations, regardless of position as a leader or team member. Conflicts are avoided and delayed for too long.
The problem areas must be uncovered, and training developed and done to provide direction for the change, and to get started. The first small steps are extremely important, and it can be a vulnerable process to talk about where the problems lie. In addition to this, social phenomenons are dynamic, they are continuously renewed: there is no real “finishing line” or a “done team” – follow up is required, no change is forever.
There was also energy to build a side show in the street where I live: a yarn store! The two areas: business psychology and craft, are doing well separately, and are also united on special occations, eg in a small local collaboration with Teater Republique/Revolver around the play “Fuglene”. Follow @ulden.butik on Instagram if you’re curious.
Reach out if you’d like a conversation about the look of your world.
And have a Happy New Year.