What were your WIGO moments in 2024?
While acronyms like VUCA and BANI were intended to describe the complexities of the world we live in, I often felt they were inadequate to describe what I was personally going through as I encountered specific moments of this nature.
So, I came up with the term WIGO moments – What Is Going On moments! I am using this acronym to describe moments when I personally found myself asking, “What is going on?” Moments when I was unable to fully comprehend events, occurrences and behaviours of people around me and societal issues that people around the world were grappling with and talking about.
Well, to be fair, this phrase has been used by many in similarly perplexing times including American singer-songwriter and musician, Marvin Gaye. (more about that later).
As I look back, I believe 2024 was filled with several what is going on moments for me. Moments that I found hard to comprehend.
That the US elections were won and lost not just on economics but also in good measure based on what Americans valued and what shaped their culture was a WIGO moment.
(The study conducted by Pew Research Center offers some great insights on the critical cultural issues facing the nation: gun ownership; the legacy of slavery; being open to people from all over the world; sexual identity being different from what is assigned at birth; the criminal justice system; the place of marriages and children; the place of religion in government; how gains made by women in society are viewed; abortion rights; whether AI is good or bad for life; talking openly about mental health and wellbeing).
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/06/06/cultural-issues-and-the-2024-election/
The view that Wokeism, the woke wave and woke culture which peaked in 2020 is declining rapidly is a WIGO moment. (someone defined wokeism nicely as the view that we can change the world by changing the way we talk about it). Between being completely insensitive about how we talk about important issues and walking on egg shells about every word one utters, is there a middle path, I wonder because words do create worlds.
The completion of GE’s split into three companies and the sale of its fabled Crotonville campus in April 2024 was a WIGO moment. Has the approach to learning changed or was Crotonville viewed as excess, I wonder. The larger question I often grapple with in the context of GE is this: are we still influenced by the Great Man Theory of leadership or are we done with it. After late Jack Welch, I have not see any other leader worshipped or written about as much.
The unending war between Isreal and the Hamas and Russia and Ukraine and other simmering conflicts among neighboring countries and the loss of thousands of innocent lives has been a WIGO moment. How helplessly the world has turned a mute spectator to this horrific situation is scary.
The world’s faith in India and its economy as a shining sign of hope not matching up with the common Indian’s street view of economic, social and environmental progress is a WIGO moment. Daily news about rich business owners buying up premium properties appearing side by side with frontline employees being fired adds to these WIGO moments.
That 2024 was a record year for IPOs in India and the list included some intriguing entries is a WIGO moment. Similarly, the collapse of Byjus and its valuation dropping from $22 billion to zero is a WIGO moment.
Do we see greed and disparities as serious enough issues or as mere conversations topics, I wonder.
The fear among many that AI will outsmart them is a WIGO moment. That the dangers it can cause are not being debated hard and taken seriously is another WIGO moment. That so much money is being poured into something about which we do not yet fully comprehend is really WIGO.
As I look at organisations, I find that leaders are being evaluated and measured on their ability to manage their WIGO moments and make progress. Leaders are clearly struggling to understand and engage with employees across generations. Each of their interactions with gen next is a WIGO moment. That Mr. Narayana Murthy continues to be asked to explain and defend his position on long work hours is an interesting example. At a larger level, can the lack of trust in leaders and their institutions be ascribed to these developments across the globe, I wonder.
As I hear more and more people talk about spirituality, inner work, mental health and well-being, I see some connection. In a WIGO world, mastery over self is the only thing we can do.
It is interesting that the recently launched book The Journey of Leadership by four Senior Partners of McKinsey talks about how CEOs must learn to lead from the Inside Out. It emphasizes qualities like humility, selflessness, vulnerability, courage, openness and empathy.
I believe that counsellors, therapists and coaches will be doing more and more Inner work to help their clients deal with this external chaos, these WIGO moments.
I wish each one of you and your families very happy holidays and pray that 2025 is filled with lots of success and happiness and fewer WIGO moments!
