How’s your 2025 treating you so far? And, not to give away my own answer, why does January always seem so long? Whether you’re in the frigid north or enjoying a milder climate, I think everyone is always ready to move on to February.

But you know, January wasn’t all about the polar vortex. Here at the Bureau we’ve been having some great conversations. Every week I attempt to string together some pearls of wisdom to share with everyone who is interested, via our free newsletter, which you can sign up for here. So let’s take a look at what we learned in January.

2025 Events

First up is the question that is always on everyone’s mind. What events are we holding in 2025? We spent a lot of time talking with Bureau members to see which potential events were drawing the most interest. This is where we are right now:

Things can change as time goes on, depending on the interest in each event. Prices can go up closer to an event, so I strongly encourage you to sign up sooner rather than later. We’re putting a lot of thought into these events, so I hope to see you there!

AI for Better Leadership

It might seem counterintuitive to anyone who has seen a Terminator movie, but if you use AI correctly it can actually help you boost some very human skills, like leadership. While it occasionally leads us astray, one thing AI is incredible at doing is analyzing data. And since you don’t have time to look through every email with your staff to see how they are feeling, you can use AI to help you identify emotional patterns in communications.  

AI can also help you improve your own communications. It can write quick drafts of messages or documents, of course, but you can also use it to fine-tune your own writing. Want a new policy notice to seem friendlier? Ask AI. Need it to sound less snarky? AI can help. Want it to make your email more passive-aggressive? I don’t know why you’d want that, but it can do that too. You can also ask AI to hold a conversation with you to simulate an employee’s response so you can prepare for difficult questions. Get creative with it, and give it a try.

Recognizing Excellence

For years I’ve known that the Bureau attracts the best and brightest to join our community, and I wanted to take the time to recognize Karl Sakas for his contributions to the group over his decade-plus of membership. His company, Sakas and Company has grown in lock step with the Bureau of Digital. 

Karl is no stranger to the other Bureau members – he’s well known for his insights and is always ready to help others. If someone is facing a problem, chances are he’s already overcome it and written a blog post that shows them exactly what to do. Karl is a true team player and makes sure everyone is included. As part of the Bureau Advisory Council, it’s no wonder he’s our 2024 Member of the Year. Congratulations, Karl!

Since it’s February, it’s only appropriate that I express my love and appreciation for everyone who has helped us get to where we are today. If you’re not a part of the community, I invite you to see what we have to offer, And if you’re not at least getting our free weekly newsletter, what are you waiting for? Sign up here. 2025 is already picking up speed, and I can’t wait to talk to you again next month!

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