A Guide To Planning Your 2026

Welcome to the all new season of Leadership Moments! We're starting off Season 4 about one thing: goal setting and the common misconception that the dawn of January signals an immediate need for clear and actionable plans. This episode aims to reassure leaders that experiencing uncertainty is normal and doesn't signify failure.

We emphasize the psychological weight of January, highlighting its tendency to create undue pressure due to societal expectations of setting new goals and achieving a revitalized sense of self. The hosts argue that the world of leadership often inaccurately aligns personal and professional growth with the calendar year — January through December — which can lead leaders to feel behind if they haven't set clear directions as the new year begins. They advocate for embracing uncertainty as a crucial part of the transition and growth cycle.

Key Takeaways:

• Transition vs. Clarity: It's common for leaders to misconstrue periods of transition as failures when in fact, they signal impending growth and change.
• The Myth of January Resolution: January doesn't mark an automatic reset. True growth and clarity are not constrained to calendar months.
• Direction Over Decisions: Leaders should focus on direction — understanding what they want more or less of — rather than making hasty decisions under pressure.
• Emotional Impact: Suppressing uncertainty can lead to disconnections from oneself and others, while embracing honesty with oneself can foster genuine growth.
• Presence Over Pressure: Encourages leaders to stay present with uncertainty, trusting that clarity will emerge naturally over time.

Notable Quotes:

• "For me, a great leader needs to be able to marry three things. Vision, systems, and people." - Tracy-Ann Palmer
• "If you are a leader listening to this and you're thinking, I don't have it all figured out, this episode is for you." - Tracy-Ann Palmer
• "You're not behind. You're not failing. You're not doing it wrong. You're in the process, which is exactly where you need to be." - Stacy Castor
• "So when you enter the new year still processing, still questioning, or still unsure about what's next, you know, it can feel like you've missed a deadline that actually doesn't exist." - Tracy-Ann Palmer
• "Direction is about knowing what you want more of and what you want less of. It's about orientation rather than precision." - Stacy Castor

Resources:

• Leadership Moments Podcast Website
• Follow Leadership Moments on Instagram and LinkedIn for updates.

All episodes and guest requests can be found at:
www.leadershipmomentspodcast.com
Follow Stacey Caster on Instagram @staceycaster_
Follow Tracy-Ann Palmer on Instagram @tracy_ann_palmer

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

You have to walk the talk. You have to be authentic as a leader.

SPEAKER_00 0:04

If you're not doing it, they see that.

SPEAKER_01 0:07

It is entirely universal. There's other people who are going through this.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

For me, a great leader needs to be able to marry three things: vision, systems, and people.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

Welcome to Leadership Moments. If this is your first time, and if you are returning, thank you for your support.

SPEAKER_02 0:26

This show is about leaders from all walks of life, leadership tips, and maybe even a little of what you wouldn't expect to help you in leadership.

January’s Weight And Expectations

SPEAKER_01 0:35

We would appreciate it if you tell someone else about our podcast as we strive to support all leaders that want to just be better. Let's get on with the show. Welcome back to Leadership Moments Podcast and to the start of a brand new season. This is our fourth year. I cannot believe it. And we wanted to open up this season with a conversation that feels especially relevant right now because January actually carries a lot of pressure. It's this unspoken expectation that as the calendar flips, we're supposed to suddenly feel clear, confident, and ready, and you know, ready with goals and plans and decisions and have a vision for what's next. And if that clarity isn't there yet, I'm here to tell you, Tracy and I are both here to tell you, it can quietly feel like we're already behind.

Pressure On Leaders To Know Now

SPEAKER_02 1:27

Yeah, I tell you. In fact, you know, we started talking about, oh, the new year and what are we going to do in the new year. So we, you know, the corporations put it on us, but we also just put it on ourselves, right? And that pressure is amplified as leaders. You know, we're expected to know. Uh, they're expected to move quickly, to set direction, to sound confident when everything is uncertain, you know, the world we live in with all the change. And so if you are a leader listening to this and you're thinking, I don't have it all figured out. This episode is for you. And today we want to talk about where pressure, where does that pressure come from? Why January makes it louder, and why not having everything figured out might actually be what we're supposed to do.

False Certainty And Its Costs

SPEAKER_01 2:25

Yeah, so true, Tracy. And I mean, January has this unique psychological weight to it, and it's treated like a reset button, as if December 31st somehow comes to it closes all open loops, like just magically. And socially, we reinforce this idea constantly with the new year, the new goals, the new you, the new habits, right? New identity. And we see people posting these bold declarations about what they're gonna accomplish this year, and it creates this comparison loop that's hard to escape. Even when we know better, it can get inside of our heads so easily.

Reframing Not Knowing As Growth

SPEAKER_02 3:04

So easily. And you know what makes this especially challenging is that life doesn't actually operate on a calendar, right? Growth and clarity and change doesn't follow January through to December cycles. But the messaging tells us that they should. So when you enter the new year, still processing, still questioning, or still unsure about what's next, you know, it can feel like you've missed a deadline that actually doesn't exist.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

Yeah, so true. I mean, one of the biggest issues we see, this pressure, is how it affects decision making. And so when leaders feel that they're supposed to have answers before they're ready, they often rush clarity. And so they make decisions to relieve discomfort rather than because those decisions are actually aligned and the right thing to do. They choose certainty over wisdom. And while those choices might look decisive on the surface, they often create more friction down the road.

Direction Over Definition

SPEAKER_02 4:13

Yeah, Stacy, it's so true. And you know what? There's also an emotional cost. So leaders who feel that they can't admit uncertainty often carry it alone. They suppress their doubt instead of exploring it. And over time, what that creates is this disconnection from themselves, from their teams, and from what actually matters. You know, we talk a lot about confidence in leadership, but rarely do we talk about how false certainty erodes trust internally and externally.

Focus Areas: Awareness And Honesty

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Right. One of the most important things we want to normalize today is this not knowing is not a failure. In fact, it's often a sign of growth. It usually shows up when something old no longer fits, but also while the next version hasn't fully taken shape yet. So that in-between space can feel really uncomfortable, especially for high achievers. Tracy and I definitely know this because we tend to push ourselves quite a bit. And when you're used to moving forward with clear metrics and outcomes, this uncomfortableness can happen.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Yeah. And you know, this is where many leaders misinterpret the moment that they're in, right? They label it as being stuck or unmotivated, when in reality, it's often a period of transition. It's a recalibration. You know, something is reorganizing beneath the surface. And so instead of forcing answers that may not be there, you know, you want to you want to oftentimes just listen more closely and pay attention to what's changing, what feels a little off, and also it no longer aligns.

Personal Practices For Uncertainty

SPEAKER_01 6:12

A powerful reframe we often offer leaders is this you don't need everything figured out. You just need direction. Direction doesn't require a detailed plan, it doesn't require timelines or guarantees. Direction is about knowing what you want more of and what you want less of. It's about orientation rather than precision.

SPEAKER_02 6:40

Yeah, I really love that. You know, uh the definition comes later, right? So definition is the structure, it's the strategy, it's the specifics, but direction is intuitive. So it sounds like I want more alignment, or I want to stop forcing things that don't feel right, or I want to lead with more intention this year. And January is an ideal time for direction setting, not decision forcing. When we confuse those two, we actually create a necessary pressure for ourselves.

Permission To Be In Process

SPEAKER_01 7:20

Yeah, if the goal isn't to have everything figured out right now, that what should leaders focus on instead is what we want to ask ourselves. And where to focus gives clarity. Awareness is a big one, right? That's that is probably the biggest one, is what I would say. Pay attention to your energy. Notice what drains you and what restores you. Look at the patterns around you that you're seeing and that you're experiencing, especially the ones that you've been repeating. Those patterns are information, not problems.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

Yeah, I really love that because that is all about this area that I think then needs to, you know, focus on honesty. Especially within yourself. Uh, what are you avoiding? What conversations, what decisions or acknowledgements, you know, just keep resurfacing that you've got to address, right? Often clarity doesn't come from thinking harder, it comes from being more truthful about what we already know, but haven't fully admitted yet.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

Yeah. I mean, I'll share personally, right? There's areas of this year that I don't have figured out yet. And in the past, that would have made me super uncomfortable. And I would have rushed to label it, to solve it, to be able to say, this is what I'm doing. But this year, I'm practicing of staying with uncertainty a little bit longer and trusting that clarity will come from presence and not pressure. It will come when it's ready. So accepting where you're at in the moment is okay.

SPEAKER_02 9:03

Yeah. Uh and I think this goes along with, you know, a lot of the conversations that we have, uh, not only with our clients, but also with each other, right? And for me, it's been about releasing the belief that forward movement has to look a certain way. Okay, I'm allowing myself to move slower in some areas uh to create more space before committing. And what I've noticed is that when I stop forcing the answers, better ones tend to emerge.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Yeah. So if you're listening and feeling like you should have more clarity by now, we want to offer you the permission to let that go. You're not behind, you're not failing, you're not doing it wrong, you're in the process, which is exactly where you need to be.

Closing And Calls To Connect

SPEAKER_02 10:01

Yeah. And you know, leadership isn't about having everything figured out all the time, every every moment of the day, right? It's about being willing to move forward honestly, even when the path isn't fully visible yet. As you move through this month, consider the question what's asking for my attention right now, without needing an immediate answer. Let that be enough for January. We're so glad that you are here with us for our fourth season. Can't believe it. Crazy, crazy stuff. Let's move forward one intentional step at a time. See you next time. If you enjoyed the show, please go to LeadershipMomentsPodcast.com to subscribe to the podcast or on your favorite player, as well as follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

SPEAKER_01 11:06

You can also send us a message on what you like and don't like, or what guest you want us to have on the show.

SPEAKER_02 11:11

So until next time.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

This is Stacy Castor, and what does it challenge you won't change you.

SPEAKER_02 11:15

And I'm Tracy Ann Palmer. Be the change you wish to see in the world.