“If you can’t do it faster, I’ll get someone who will.” I’ve heard versions of this more than once over the past 10–15 years. Not always said this bluntly. Often implied. Sometimes wrapped in urgency, sometimes framed as innovation, sometimes positioned as necessity.

The start of the year demands focused attention. A few years ago, as the year kicked off, I made a series of decisions after careful consideration that all felt right at the time. I found myself saying “yes” to extra work, to reasonable requests, to opportunities that made sense in isolation. That experience changed how I approach the start of a year. I now pay closer attention to the pressure points that don’t appear obvious early on.

The Obvious Question: “How do I set my team up for success this year?” Is it really? In my experience, I have found that starting to create momentum at the end of the year is important.

Have you heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words”? It’s fascinated me, in hindsight, how much my approach to planning, New Year’s resolutions, and goal-setting has changed over time.

I am sure you have been told, "Communication is Key!" At the start of a new year, there’s pressure to communicate certainty, confidence, and momentum.

So 2026 is here and I sure you are asking "How do I start strong?" I had to take a moment as the calendar flipped. For most of us, this should be a time of reflection.

When we are navigating our way through the year, we do not realise the impact of friction on our paths. Most of us, myself included, tend to focus on achieving the outcome or goal rather than removing friction from our paths.

There's truth in the old saying, "you cannot see the forest for the trees." When we don't stop and step back from the daily grind, we lose perspective and start focusing on the noise rather than what really matters.

Leadership has a funny way of teaching us the same lesson over and over until we finally learn it.

Do you know what the secrets are? After three decades of developing my leadership skills, I've realised that the best leaders never stop growing.

Real influence doesn't come from titles or job descriptions; it comes through relationships, trust and consistency from leaders serving their people.

Do you know who is the hardest person to lead on your team? The hardest person to lead is the one looking back at me in the mirror every morning.

The truth I've learned through years of digital transformation work: Technology should serve people, not the other way around. When we focus only on the shiny side of innovation, we lose sight of its real purpose.