Goal-oriented leaders like to start the year off strong, but the challenges that dogged you or your company late last year likely refused to disappear when the New Year's ball dropped. Meanwhile, swift evolutions in AI and a wobbly economy spell fresh waves of uncertainty in the new year.
The pressure is on for executives to navigate the complexities of rapidly changing business and tech environments. Despite resolving to be more “efficient,” “productive” or any variety of assertive adjectives in the new year, even the most resolute leaders can drift back to old patterns somewhere along the way, said Prudence Hatchett, a leadership resilience strategist and mental wellness specialist who counsels executives.
Beneath the confident persona that leaders have it all together, Hatchett said many top-level leaders struggle with exhaustion, burnout, imposter syndrome, personality conflicts and communication issues that can distract them from their goals. After all, it can be lonely at the top.
To steel yourself for this year’s challenges and guard against the internal struggles of executive leadership, here is how Hatchett suggests starting the year off right.
Establish your mindset for 2026
Review the overall vision and annual goals for your position and how you fared last year. Do the same for your team and company. Ask yourself:
- Did you meet last year’s and last quarter’s goals?
- What did the team talk about during meetings?
- How can you or your team have been more productive?
- Was there enough time to meet the goals?
Consider how you, your team and the company can avoid repeating mistakes made last year. Be sure to ask yourself the hard question of whether there was something you could have done better and what that would have been.
“I've seen people repeat the same mistakes if they don't know what to replace those mistakes with,” Hatchett said.
Have a plan of action
Some leaders say they are confident, but then start their days tired and unsure what they will get done. Knowing what the plan is for the long, medium and short term helps maintain confidence.
Understand the day's priorities in advance. Take the time to chart out your yearly, monthly, weekly and daily plan. Build in room for flexibility in the event you need to pivot.
Developing a plan builds confidence because you know what the plan is. This blueprint also builds resiliency for a healthy mindset, helping guard against starting the day with stress, Hatchett said.
“Some people are starting their day scrambling for what they need to do, which is also why that anxiety sets in when we wake up, or when we're driving to work, because we have fear that we don't know what we'll get done that day,” she said.
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