Choosing What Matters in 2026

January often arrives carrying a familiar weight.

New plans. New goals. A long list of things we should be doing differently this year.

And yet, for many leaders I work with, the real challenge is not a lack of ambition… it’s a lack of focus.

As leaders, we are constantly deciding.  What to prioritise.  What to say yes to.  What to defer.  What to let go of.  

Over time, the volume of decisions can crowd out the most important question of all:

What truly matters now?

This year, rather than setting a long list of resolutions, I’ve chosen a single focus.

2026 is my Year of Thriving!

Not thriving in a performative or relentless way, but thriving in a way that is sustainable, grounded and intentional.

You’ll see an image alongside this blog that I have created that captures how I’m going to be thriving in 2026. It’s not a model or a framework to follow, but a visual reminder that thriving is multi-dimensional.  It’s about how we see, how we do, how we be, and how we relate, which are all connected, all influencing one another.

I find visuals like this, and ones that I have created (which is not perfect, but mine) helpful because they slow me down just enough to ask the question: what needs my attention right now?

For me, thriving shows up across four dimensions:

• Seeing — staying curious longer, asking what matters most, noticing patterns rather than reacting quickly

• Doing — choosing growth and learning, acting with focus and energy rather than busyness

• Being — being present and intentional, allowing space for health, joy and recovery

• Relating — connecting deeply with family, friends and clients, making space for fun and adventure

Underpinning all of this is a simple, steady question I return to often: “Does this help me thrive?”

It’s a powerful filter.  As not everything that looks productive is helpful.  Not everything that fills the calendar adds value.

For leaders, choosing what matters is not a once-a-year exercise. It’s a daily practice. It requires discernment, courage and, at times, the willingness to disappoint others in order to stay aligned with what really co

unts.

As you begin 2026, I invite you to pause and reflect:

• What do you want more of this year — not just at work, but in life?

• Where has your attention drifted away from what matters most?

• What would it look like to choose fewer things, more deliberately?

Thriving doesn’t come from doing more…it comes from choosing well.