Happy New Year! As we all jump back into what is sure to be another tumultuous year, I thought it
would be interesting to pause for a moment to think about and prepare for the big issues facing businesses around the world in 2025.
Drawing from our recent recent, conversations with business leaders, clients, and participants, here’s Part One of a two-part series: 25 key issues to consider and prepare for
1) Practical Artificial Intelligence Integration
- This will continue to be the #1 topic. But what does it mean? How is your company going to keep pace and embrace the power of AI?
- AI will move beyond buzzwords to deliver real, measurable value, such as automating repetitive tasks, improving customer experiences, and enhancing decision-making processes.
2) Remote Work Optimization
- As organizations request their employees come “back to the office” leaders are going to struggle with defining boundaries, giving feedback, and achieving success.
- There is no perfect solution here and managing productivity, team cohesion, and cybersecurity for hybrid or fully remote teams will be a daunting task for most leaders.
- This is going to be a significant issue as organizations settle into the new normal of work. They are very quickly going to recognize that not investing in skills like business acumen, business leadership, and other technical skills is killing their effectiveness and ability to hit goals.
- Smart organizations are identifying the emerging skills needed and putting plans into place right now.
4) Generational Shifts
- Directly related to Workforce Upskilling (above), leading across generations will continue to be a challenge for all generations of leaders.
- Many organizations will focus on preparing for Gen Z’s influence on workplace culture and consumer behavior and overlook the other generations, which will be a huge mistake.
- Remember everyone, like it or not, the boomers and their values will hold all the cash!
5) Embracing Generative AI Applications
- The tools are being launched at mind-numbing speed.
- How is your organization going to embrace them, use them, and make sure they are helping and not just doing the work for your expensive employees?
- Leveraging tools like ChatGPT, MidJourney, and others for content, coding, and creative processes are issues that leaders will need to reckon with.
6) Artificial Intelligence Ethics
- Closely attached to issue #1, this is going to be a quiet and “under the radar” issue until it is not. Your issues will start small but they will take over rapidly potentially putting your company at risk.
- In terms of the specific issues, organizations will struggle with things such as addressing bias, transparency, and ethical use of AI in decision-making processes.
7) Supply Chain Flexibility
- Just because things seem to be okay today doesn't mean they will be okay tomorrow.
- Smart organizations are planning to manage disruptions, execute reshoring strategies, and how to mitigate the risk of their reliance on the current global supply chains.
8) Customer Experience (CX)
- The complete customer experience is going to be more important than ever. Over the past few years, too many organizations have forgotten that without customers there is no business.
- Companies will enhance their CX with personalization and seamless digital interactions. Being prepared for this with skills, tools, and systems is going to be critical.
9) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Despite the current mood and trend, smart companies know that DEI programs work and help them achieve their goals and objectives.
- There will be a lot of noise. Don’t listen to it. Addressing workplace disparities and promoting genuine inclusivity works.
10) Inflation and Rising Costs
- Make no mistake about it, inflation and rising costs are going to continue into 2025.
- World-class organizations are going to continue to navigate ways of optimizing operational expenses and focusing on their pricing strategies.
11) Geopolitical Instability
- This one is not going to ever go away.
- You are going to need to prepare for the global economic impacts of conflicts, sanctions, tariffs, and shifting alliances.
12) Sustainability Goals
- Although it feels like this has taken a lesser role, it will come back strong in mid to late 2025.
- Your organization will need to be prepared to meet ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) benchmarks and consumer demand for eco-friendly practices.
13) Green Energy Transition
- Another one that seems to have taken a back seat to more pressing issues, will come back in 2025.
- You should start or restart thinking about investing in renewable energy to align with global decarbonization goals.
I’d love to hear your feedback on Part I. Stay tuned for Part II next week!
