Personality traits our world needs in 2021
“Speak to inspire, not to impress.” — Lisa Nichols
The end of what was arguably one of the most memorable years in a single lifetime is fast approaching.
As time passes and people around the world eventually begin to adapt to their new way of life, chances are, ten years from now, many of us will most notably remember the start of this decade as the unprecedented health crisis that wrecked families and nations worldwide.
For some, COVID-19 alone will be the highlight of their 2020.
Others may remember it for its U.S. elections and the ever-rising popularity of spreading misinformation and disinformation.
Some may remember 2020 as a year of racism and xenophobia; plagued by social injustice following the ongoing murder of men and women of color, and the hate crimes committed against communities of distinct ethnicities in the wake of the pandemic (there were so many that a Wikipedia page has been created specifically to detail how they affected communities in 50 countries.)
There’s been a fair share of “bad” this year. But some may also choose to remember the good.
How communities across the world came together to support those who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
Much needed conversations around social injustice were brought to the fore following unfortunate human losses, bringing people of distinct races together to fight a cause that has devastated nations for decades, if not centuries.
LGBTQ+ communities are seeing more representation in government thanks to the rise of openly gay and transgender politicians.
The list goes on for both sides…
Regardless of how you slice it, there’s a lot to learn from 2020.
As we prepare to enter 2021 with a mix of hope and uncertainty, what follows is a list of individual and collective qualities which may seem obvious in the context of, well, anything, yet serve as necessary reminders that, in the end, such qualities can have a drastic impact on a person’s life, and the fate of our human race.
Empathetic
In many parts of the world, communities are severely divided, politically and socially. It’s important to recognize the value of constructing our social (and perhaps professional) environments with individuals whose views differ from our own, not for the sake of winning debates, but to enrich our minds with fresh ideas.
Those who refuse to talk about politics at the dinner table refuse to create a safe environment in which all points of view are welcome (unless they know the other person will intentionally wreak havoc.)
A utopian state shouldn’t be one wherein everyone agrees on everything. A utopian state should be made up of individuals whose views may greatly differ from one another, yet accept such differences and are willing to discuss them, peacefully.
Call this naïveté — and perhaps it is — but without faith, there’s no hope, right?
“The role of a leader isn’t to come up with great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.” — Simon Sinek
Informative & Curious
We’ve witnessed the threatening rise of fake news and conspiracy theories create further divide between communities. Some of the most fragile consumers of information sitting on the receiving end of such threats are our young generations — teens — whose lives have largely revolved around digital devices and lack vital education on how to challenge this information.
In the context of social media, Triston Harris’s recent Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma was a globally appraised wake-up call on how tech companies use algorithmic systems to value profits over people, regardless of the consequences.
Education, in its broadest sense, remains one of our world’s most essential pillars in keeping people of all ages and races informed, which I believe goes hand in hand with curiosity.
As our world continues to struggle with making sense of what’s “real” and what isn’t, it’s important for those equipped with knowledge to educate others and raise awareness of what they know.
It’s also important for those on the receiving end of this awareness to remain curious and do their due diligence, if resources to do so are readily available, in order to challenge whether what the informed individual sharing what they know is to be accepted as such, or to be thought about more thoroughly.
Compassionate
I use COVID-19 in the context of work as an example of how professional communities around the world came together to support those who lost their jobs.
In Hong Kong, where I currently live, people are reportedly “more afraid of being made redundant during the pandemic” than other countries around the world, according to SCMP.
I witnessed my own LinkedIn feed and networks grow with job updates, profile recommendations, and engaging conversations.
Those who, in the past, would have remained quiet, suddenly found their voice, calling for help. Others — many of whom they may have never actually met — happily answered, without asking for anything in return.
“Focus attention and energy on making a difference in the lives of others, and success might follow as a by-product.” — Adam Grant
Transparent/Vulnerable
Here, I express a “vulnerable individual” as someone who publicly accepts and communicates their imperfections or lack of knowledge in a particular area, and seeks help from others.
In other words: being human.
Far too many times, we’ve witnessed Donald Trump (among many other politicians, organizational leaders, and perhaps our closest friends) refusing to admit to his own wrongdoing, choosing instead to blame others.
As a person of status — whether it be in a particular position within the organization, in your family, or within your social networks, with a resounding and influential voice — I believe in a balance of “showing confidence and strength” and “showing that we, too, are emotional beings who don’t have an answer for everything.”
Not everyone, among the billions of individuals who inhabit our planet, have the same abilities as die-hard Stoics to process and make sense of their emotions.
Show yourself.
You might be surprised by what those who care for you will do to support you.
The end of what was arguably one of the most memorable years in a single lifetime is fast approaching.
Chances are you have read LinkedIn posts, watched Instagram stories, or heard in conversations statements such as “Let’s pretend 2020 never happened.”
But just as we, as individuals and communities, come out stronger from the challenges we face and the lessons we learn (if we choose not to let them consume us to deep, dark ends), it’s important to remember 2020 as a transformative year that did happen.
COVID-19 took everyone by surprise and showed how immensely unprepared we were. In the wake of this pandemic, we come out with unprecedented, preventive planning skills.
It forced us to no longer take what we have for granted and to think strategically, continuously, and flexibly, about the future.
It forced uncomfortable, yet crucial conversations about social injustice, and as a consequence of it, brought friends of different races closer together.
Unfortunate events from around the world led many, myself included, to feel more empathetic about how our Black, Hispanic, and Asian friends, as well as others from different ethnicities, felt during the riots.
We reached out with words of care, expressing nothing more than a simple “I am here for you,” despite being worlds away.
We witnessed the rise of women and LGBTQ+ communities in power, paving the way for a more empowering and inspiring future to look up to and aspire for among younger generations.
2020 did happen.
The fate of the rest of this new decade depends entirely on how we choose to remember this year, and whether we choose to learn from our mistakes, or to repeat them.
Only time will tell.
