‘As leaders, it’s our job to tune into the struggles of the people we serve’ – Emma Hogg

Emma Hogg, Founder of self-development agency A Life I Choose, has emphasised the need for business leaders to continue showing support to their employees as macroeconomic challenges persist over the coming year.

In the last few years, people have had to endure lockdowns, health scares, a cost-of-living crisis, and a number of other challenges, which have been heightened by the war in Ukraine. To make matters worse, Ms Hogg, who is also a qualified psychotherapist, told MaltaCEOs.mt that we hear about acts of aggression, corruption, or negligence “on almost a daily basis”.

“The world is going through a period that historians William Strauss and Neil Howe refer to as ‘winter’ – a rough time on all fronts – and as leaders, it’s our job to really tune in with the struggles of the people we serve so that we can support to uplift and empower them to be a part of the change they want to see,” she explained.

Business leaders have to adapt to these circumstances, especially when it comes to containing their ego to make the best decision for the future of their organisation. “Your ego will want things to stay the same and will want you to fulfil all of the expectations you’ve inherited for yourself from childhood. But your ego doesn’t always want what’s best for you, your family, and the people you serve, and it can make you extremely inflexible which is no good for any business leader,” Ms Hogg said.

As a result, she suggested they should find a mentor who they “click with” that can guide them to “dialogue with their ego” so that they remain in the driver’s seat of both their business and their lives.

When asked what her priorities for A Life I Choose are for 2023, she stated that she wants to support people to “get through winter with the best results possible”, not just financially, but also when it comes to “relationships, spirituality, personal development, and self-care”.

“Winter is the hardest cycle of history to get through, but it is also when we have the highest potential for healing and growth. I want to support people to grow, which also means I need to invest in myself to do that,” Ms Hogg explained.

While winter may cause a number of disappointments, which can cause a person to feel “lost and disheartened”, it also presents an opportunity to “let life guide them to where they are most needed and where they’ll have the most impact”.