Navigating New Pathways in the New Year
When I was an emerging leader in my 20s, I was captivated by photographing pathways—trails, roads, waterways of all kinds, sizes, and shapes. Decades later, I am still drawn to them. To me, these images capture more than just beautiful scenery; they symbolize an invitation to a way forward. Because no matter our level of experience as leaders, when we set intentions for this new year, we find ourselves standing at a trailhead, deciding which tracks to follow, and which we are called to blaze ourselves.
Find Your Grounding
On New Year’s morning, I welcomed this year by practicing yoga on a dock, gazing out at the beautiful lake pathway before me. While holding a particularly challenging pose, I experienced an inspiring moment of deep stillness, where I realized my stability depended entirely on being centered and grounded.
It reminded me that as a leader, the ability to move forward into the unknown is only as strong as your ability to stay centered. Your stability—and the stability of those you lead—is determined by being grounded in core values. Otherwise, the first gust of organizational change can make everything unsteady. Similar to this yoga pose, grounding is one of three things needed to prepare for the new pathway ahead: grounding, gazing, and reaching. Finding your grounded stance is what allows you to push and stretch yourself to become the leader your organization needs, and to be fully ready for the trail. Read the full reflection.
Plan for the Adventure
Great leadership requires a level of self-awareness that can be easy to overlook. Mel Robbins suggests a New Year Audit since most people forget about 95% of what actually happened over the last 12 months. As a leader, you cannot afford to lose that data. If you don't audit the path you just walked, you can’t move forward into the new year effectively.
Using the "Stop, Start, Continue" framework, you can gain the data needed to plan a successful year:
STOP: Identify and remove habits, projects, or team dynamics that you have been merely "tolerating".
CONTINUE: Double down on the leadership behaviors and wellness practices that effectively fueled your success over the past year.
START: Focus on the specific focus areas or habits you need to invite into your leadership toolkit for the upcoming year.
As Mel Robbins notes, it is mathematically impossible to get where you want to go—to reach those new year goals—if you don’t learn from or if you remain exactly as you were last year. Listen to her podcast on the New Year Audit.
Know Your Way
We often talk about what leaders do, but the most effective leaders focus on who they are. True transformation begins with the traveler, not the destination. The most effective way to change your outcomes is to first focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become as a leader.
The pathway forward isn't just a strategic route; it’s a shift in identity. When you decide to be "the kind of leader who empowers" or "the leader who prioritizes presence," your habits and decisions naturally emerge as evidence of that new identity. When you are grounded in your core sense of self, the "what" (goals) and the "how" (habits) align effortlessly. You stop trying to act like a leader and simply begin leading from a place of authenticity. If you know the identity/ies you want to live into as a leader, you will know your way and chart your path. Watch a video on this concept.
Walking the Path Together
To effectively find your grounding, plan the adventure, and deeply identify who you wish to become, a dedicated strategic partner is a vital resource. This is where the work of executive leadership coaching steps in—to help you seamlessly integrate these steps and walk the path with confidence. It is my greatest privilege to partner with leaders like you to navigate these new pathways, turning your intentions for the new year into sustained action.
Our signature ACE Leadership framework—Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence—is designed to integrate this work. Authenticity focuses on who you are, ensuring your leadership is consistently grounded in your core values and the identity you are building. Clarity takes the data and insights from your New Year Audit to create an actionable, focused plan for your way forward. Emotional Intelligence is the essential skill for leading from a place of deep self-awareness, allowing you to connect with and inspire your team as you become the leader they need.
Coaching serves as a dedicated partner, ensuring your focus remains steady. As you gaze at the pathway in front of you in this new year, remember that this path is not just a way to get somewhere; it is the space where you become the leader you are meant to be and take your people where they are meant to go.
Blessings on this year’s journey. I’m here to walk alongside you!
Executive Leadership Coach, Authentic Leadership Coaching
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