January gloom is definitely a thing here in the Pacific Northwest this time of year. With major holidays out of the way, and with about seven hours of actual daylight (if you can call it that), we’re all just powering through until spring. What am I reading in the pale blue light of my screen? Below are stories about quiet hiring (I know), CX and EX connections, and tech workers recalculating their risk. But first, I want to talk about what it’s like to be a work leader in 2023.