I don’t know how you’re feeling about 2026, but I sense it will be a year of change. This isn’t news to anyone. 2025 brought a constant barrage of change, and it’s continued into the new year.
As an executive coach and leadership consultant working with business owners and leaders here in Omaha, I see this every day. It’s easy to see it happening on the local and global levels – inside organizations, industries, and teams. Perhaps these are differences you’ve been longing for or ones you feel apprehensive about stepping into.
There’s also another level of change that I’m sensing. One that’s more personal. It feels like a deep shift that’s coming from within each of us. And often, personal leadership growth mirrors what’s happening inside our businesses and organizations.
Anytime you encounter something new, you have a choice:
- learn and grow
- dig your heels in and cling to the old
This moment of choice is something I often explore in executive coaching and leadership development work. How will you embrace this change? Will you use it as a chance to seek a new perspective – both personally and professionally?
The desire for growth often arises from within. It’s that spark of an idea suggesting a different future might be possible, whether that’s a new direction for your leadership, your career or your organization. You start to feel energized by what could be.
It’s at this point when your mind usually takes over. It agrees with your heart that things could be different, but it also starts pointing out all the reasons why change might be bad, or even worse… why it might be a failure.
Your mind loves the safety of the status quo. More of the same feels safe, not because it truly is, but because the outcome is familiar. Predictability creates a sense of certainty, and your mind loves certainty – especially leaders responsible for teams, culture, and results.
This is what makes change hard to embrace. The outcome is unknown.
So, the real question you to wrestle with is, “How will I face the unknown?”
This is a big question, and one I hear often in leadership coaching conversations. Our minds are wired for safety, so sitting with this concept is scary and uncomfortable.
And yet you’ve been here before.
The keys to facing the unknowns of the future lie in remembering your past. You’ve faced periods in your life when the outcome couldn’t possibly be understood at the beginning, both in your personal life and your professional leadership journey.
As unexpected shifts arise, here are some questions to help you find your way forward with intention:
What does this feel like, and when have I felt this before?
This is less about how you feel now and more about remembering when you experienced something similar in the past. It forms the foundation for growth and helps normalize change, especially during periods of organizational or career transition.
How did I navigate it last time?
This helps you discover either what best served you last time or encourages you to find a new approach. Maybe you realized you needed support and sought out a trusted advisor, coach, or colleague. Maybe patience served you well, or maybe you learned that speaking up earlier would have helped. Each experience refines your leadership approach.
How did it benefit me? Personal and professional growth only happens when we step into change. These learning curves are meant to challenge us to go higher. When you look back at some of your most challenging situations, how did they ultimately make you a stronger leader and a better version of yourself?
You hold the potential to become a braver, kinder, and more compassionate version of yourself this year. And when leaders grow, organizations grow with them. As 2026 unfolds, how will you embrace the changes ahead?