Less Noise. Better Leadership.

I have never been much for New Year’s resolutions, at least not in the traditional sense.

Instead, I adjust. I refine. I pay attention to what is working and what quietly is not. One personal goal this year is to visit ten new places in Arizona. Another is professional and practical. I want to create a better rhythm for starting and ending each workday, because last year reminded me that effort alone is not the same as effectiveness.

I do enjoy hearing the goals and aspirations of others. They tend to reveal more than just ambition. They tell you what someone values, what they want to grow, and often what they believe is standing in their way. For a few close friends, I even step into the role of accountability partner, offering encouragement and the occasional nudge when needed.

Over the last couple of years, though, I have noticed a subtle but meaningful shift.

More and more, the goals people are setting are not about adding something new. They are about removing something old.

Less noise. Fewer commitments. Reduced clutter on calendars, in inboxes, and in minds.

We live in a culture wired for constant motion. Hurry is rewarded. More is celebrated. Achievement is often measured by volume rather than impact. But I am sensing a collective pivot. A move toward focus. Toward depth. Toward relationships.

Many of us run in circles of leaders who are trying to solve big problems, innovate, and create efficiencies. Ironically, one of the most effective ways to do that is not by stacking more onto our plates, but by simplifying what is already there. Reducing distractions. Clarifying priorities. Leveraging relationships to get the right things done instead of everything done.

When we simplify, we free ourselves to play to our strengths. We still will have responsibilities that stretch us beyond them; that is part of leadership. But simplification helps us identify where drift has occurred, where we said yes too often. Where alignment quietly slipped.

This is a good moment to pause and assess that drift.

As we look ahead to our 2026 calendars, the question is not just what will we do, but who will we be by the end of that year. What truly needs to be accomplished to get there. And just as important, who do we need to connect with or reconnect with along the way. Not only to help us achieve our goals, but perhaps to help someone else reach theirs.

That kind of intentionality may not feel as flashy as a resolution list. But it is often far more powerful. And far more sustainable.

What simplification would make the biggest difference for you right now?

-Michelle