“It's that little souvenir, of a colorful year
Which makes me smile inside
So I cynically, cynically say, the world is that way
Surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise.”

“Here’s Where the Story Ends” by The Sundays

As we approach the end of 2020, most would agree it has been a terrible year. On December 31, 2019 - the very last day of the previous year - the first case of what would be called COVID-19 was identified. Had it been one day later, it would have been called COVID-20, which seems more appropriate, given its domination of this year.

The consequences of a global pandemic are numerous and complicated. In addition to the many tragedies and upheavals it provoked around the world, leaders found themselves dealing with a market that failing to grow for the first time in a decade, and indeed experiencing crashes, disruptions, and rapid change.

Like everyone else, our business felt touched by this. A major client fellowship, with three on-site locations, abruptly shifted to online sessions. We did CEO assessments — references, interview, reporting to the board — entirely by video. We did interview training online.

We scrambled to provide for our clients, and we succeeded. While we have solid experience in online learning to begin with (for some of us, going back to the dot-com days!), we had to significantly redesign programs intended for live, in-person delivery.

Ziva Mann, Director of Learning & Development

But we also benefited. We exercised our creativity, which was satisfying; we created new, effective online interventions, which was gratifying; and we supported each other throughout this year, which helped us all survive with sanity intact. Our clients’ new familiarity with video platforms enabled us to enhance our leadership development offerings so that we can use both intensive in-person events and adaptable online events with equal ease, and future programs will integrate both for maximum impact.

We did change our habits. We didn’t travel to the extraordinary locations we prefer and have used in the past. Instead of going to Summit Skywalker Ranch or Davos or the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, we stayed home and uploaded Zoom backgrounds and downloaded various pieces of software.

But the people were the same. We had a chance to engage with leaders at important moments for themselves and their businesses, and help them grow.

Ascent assesses and develops leaders in ways that matter. That didn’t change. Nor will it.

Our best wishes to you and yours in this holiday season, and into what we expect will be a very different year.

Steve Kelner, Ziva Mann, and Tiffany West

Thoughts on a Terrible Year