Pinpoint your most pressing problem — and step into 2026 with clarity
A lot of ink has been spilled about what leadership is, but sometimes, it feels like being a leader is just solving a lot of problems.
And sure, “problem” might seem like a negative word, but here’s what great leaders know:
Problems are the curriculum of leadership.
They stretch you, teach you, and force you to grow in ways that success never will.
With that in mind, I put together a short year-end leadership diagnostic. Think of it as a way to pinpoint the challenge that’s been pulling at you lately, and then step into it with practical guidance that will help you tackle it well.
Take a look at this list and find the tension that resonates most with your leadership right now.
💡My ideas are good, but they never seem to go anywhere.
🫠Morale and energy on my team are dipping.
🙉 I need honest input, but I’m not sure how to get it.
🥇I want to raise the bar for my team.
🪴 I’m ready to move beyond management but don’t know how.
🐌 My day-to-day work doesn’t move me closer to my goals.
🧊My brand feels stuck and stale.
I think my ideas are good, but they never seem to go anywhere.
Every leader knows the frustration: you share a big idea, people nod politely, maybe it sparks a little discussion… and then nothing happens.
If this is your tension, this article can help. In it, I break down five practical ways to turn your ideas into reality. It’s an especially helpful read before you head into a fresh year of goals and strategy.
Help me turn my ideas into reality >>
Morale and energy on my team feel like they’re dipping.
You can sense it when a team’s energy starts to fade. Meetings feel heavier. Projects lose a little steam. And as the leader, you’re the one pulling things forward instead of everyone pushing together.
If that’s what things have felt like this year, this article will help you get the spark back. It walks you through a simple way to reconnect your team to the bigger picture and to one another so you can get big things done together.
Get your team more aligned and inspired >>
I know I need honest input, but I’m not sure how to get it.
If you’re worried you have blind spots, you’re not alone. Most leaders do.
What matters is knowing what those blind spots are. That means you’ve got to create a space where people feel safe telling you what you can’t see.
This piece will help you get that honest feedback from your team, even when they hesitate to tell you. And even better, it will help you actually receive it instead of getting defensive. I can’t think of a better mindset to take into a new year.
I want to raise the bar for my team.
You know your team is capable of sharper work and stronger execution. But you also know that raising the bar isn’t as simple as pushing people harder.
This article shows you how to elevate the quality of work across your organization without burning people out. You’ll learn three practical levers you can use to create a culture of quality and help your team consistently deliver their best.
Help your team hit a higher standard >>
I’m ready to move beyond management.
You’ve mastered the basics of delegation, execution, and planning.
But you know there’s a more strategic and inspiring level of leadership ahead of you. Trouble is, no one hands you a roadmap to get there.
If you’re ready to shift from managing tasks to actually leading people, this article lays out seven practical mindset shifts that will help you make that shift from manager to leader.
My daily work doesn’t seem to move me closer to my big goals.
It’s amazing how a full calendar can leave you feeling empty at the end of the day. When you’re bouncing from meeting to meeting and reacting to whatever pops up, it’s hard to see any real progress on the things that matter most.
This article helps you bridge that gap. You’ll see a simple way to line up your daily work with the future you’re trying to build (without adding more to your plate).
Make each day count toward what matters >>
My brand feels stuck and stale.
It’s frustrating when you’ve put real effort into refreshing your brand, and yet the response still feels flat. You can sense something’s not connecting, even if you can’t quite name it.
When that happens, the answer usually isn’t “more marketing.” This article points you to the deeper work that gives a brand its heartbeat, with examples of brands that have earned lasting attention and loyalty.
Reignite your brand from the inside out >>
Wrapping things up
Remember, problems aren’t interruptions to the work. They are the work.
So don’t scoff at your problems or bemoan them. Acknowledge them. Study them. Stay curious about what they’re trying to teach you. And always keep your antenna up for how to solve them.
When you do, your problems will stretch you, shape you, and elevate you into a stronger person and leader.
And I hope this post leaves you feeling more equipped and motivated to take them on in the new year!
I’d love to hear what challenge resonated with you and why. Drop a note in the comments with the step you’re taking, and then tag a colleague to join you!
Your Next Step
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