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A belated welcome to 2024.
As 2023 drew to a close, so came the annual array of dictionaries’ ‘words of the year’ – a blend of ChatGPT inspiration (‘AI’, ‘hallucinate’) and TikTalk ('rizz’).
But, if Jersey were to have put its own forward, might I suggest “despite”?
Whether entrepreneur or charity fundraiser, nearly every story of success we have featured across Connect, Bailiwick Express and the Bailiwick Podcasts has carried the phrase.
Despite covid, despite Brexit, despite the storm, despite cost-of-living, despite losing the mail plane,
despite the island’s size...
It’s a phrase that speaks volumes of islanders’ tenacity and perseverance – and perhaps explains, to some extent, why other phrases like “Jersey punches above
its weight” and “world- class” have become clichés peppering everything from political interviews to LinkedIn posts and Government press releases.
Despite a lack of support, despite the red tape, despite Government...
No wonder, then, that despite hearty pledges of action during the election, the lack of rapid movement to kick down barriers that businesses were screaming about left many feeling that Government simply wasn’t on their side.
So, when those in the enviable position of not being plugged into the Jersey news matrix (what a lovely dry January you must have had!) queried, “what did Kristina Moore and her Ministers do so wrong to be ousted so brutally?”, the answer lies in another question: “What did they do?”
Frustrations circled around an island seemingly in paralysis – if there was a vision, it was buried, gasping for air, under reams of ‘strategy documents’, ‘policy frameworks’, and consultations.
Building, articulating and delivering a vision – and making people feel supported along the way – is what good leadership is all about.
If the new Chief Minister (our print deadline sadly puts the result tantalisingly out of reach) needs any help with where to start building that vision, they can read the words of local leaders in this month’s Unplugged (P23).
It’s not just about having a vision, but being visionary – laying the foundations for economic opportunities that we don’t even want, or know we need (one such example being the ‘Purple Pound’, whose potential we explore on P10).
Sometimes leadership is about taking the Nike approach: shrugging off the safety blanket knitted from strategic documents and the calls of the armchair warriors, and just giving something a go.
If there was ever an example of diving straight in, it’s our two sauna entrepreneurs featured on P4 – not that doing so hasn’t been without it’s challenges, but their energy is to be lauded.
Other times leadership is just about ploughing on, remaining determined to deliver even when it comes without congratulation. Great examples of this
can be found in the teams at JT (P42) and Brighter Futures (P32), who we’re delighted to announce as our chosen charity for 2024.
Both do ground-breaking work every single day, but never shout about it – so, in this edition, we are.
But, as the political drama finally dies down (we hope), find a quiet corner and enjoy Connect.
