New Year, Stronger Leader: Building the Qualities That Drive Success in 2026
Hooray! It’s a new year!!! And - if you’re like us - it’s started off with a bang! Ready to make it YOUR year, and be a stronger leader - and better person? Then you’re in the right place. If your goal is to become more grounded, more connected, and more clear-minded in 2026, we recommend that you keep reading.
At Nova Leadership, we always start in the same place: by reaffirming our values and determining our priorities. Because we live in different cities, this work is so important to us that we travel to spend dedicated time together - in person - to set the stage for the year. Why? Because values set the tone for how you lead. Because clearly defined priorities determine where your time, energy, and resources go. Getting clear on both is the foundation of all effective leadership and business development strategies.
Start with Our Reflection Workbook
If you’re new to Nova Leadership and haven’t already downloaded our End-of-Year Reflection Workbook, now’s the time. It’s a simple and straightforward reflection and planning tool. Download your copy here! We’ve already heard inspiring stories of clients who’ve taken their EOY Workbooks to the beach, to the mountains, or just settled in a quiet chair to reflect on the year that was, and to plan for an impactful year ahead. And we know that your 2026 vision can be distilled into one memorable framework with these three principles:
Connect. Create. Celebrate.
Below, we break down how each of these practices strengthens your leadership skills, supports a healthier mindset, and helps you create more mindful leadership practices you can leverage all year long.
1. CONNECT
It’s no secret that we need one another. We’ve written before that we are wired for connection. Simply put, business leaders cannot be successful working solo. And connection isn’t just good for business - it’s good for our health. According to research highlighted by the World Economic Forum and Stanford’s Center on Longevity, strong social relationships are one of the biggest predictors of a long, healthy life. Harvard researchers have echoed this too, noting that loneliness is rising and deeply affecting well-being in communities, workplaces, and families.
Leadership is harder when you feel disconnected. So in 2026, make connecting one of your priorities:
Make time for your existing relationships and strategically build new ones: with your 2026 calendar in front of you, block time off now to connect with friends, colleagues, mentors and of course your family
Think about how you can support your colleagues and how they can support you: the best relationships are two-way: think less about what you need, and more about how you can serve
Foster team culture, collaboration, and trust: create open conversations, show vulnerability, and highlight strengths
2. CREATE
People are so concerned about the rise of AI, but in our view, AI will never replicate the beauty and ingenuity of our human brain and its creative capacity. We know that working on new and creative projects can actually create new neural pathways in our brains, and that’s good for us! Research from the US Chamber of Commerce tells us that creativity in the workplace enhances problem-solving, builds resilience, and strengthens team engagement.
And the best part? Creativity doesn't have to mean you become an artist or take a pottery class on the weekends. It’s about opening your mind to new ways of thinking. It’s exploration. At Nova, we tell our clients all the time: Magic happens in the white space. Not on the screen, not in the hustle, not in the nonstop back-to-back meetings. So in 2026, we recommend challenging yourself to:
Block out time for uninterrupted thinking: phone face down, laptop closed
Explore new strategies, new models, new perspectives
Give yourself permission to experiment: and revel in what you learn, even if - and especially if - things don’t go as planned
Work on projects that energize you, not just the ones that demand your attention
3. CELEBRATE
Make time to celebrate accomplishments (big and small) for yourself and your team. Just like creativity, this doesn’t require a complete overhaul, just a few simple practices every day, or every week, to mark accomplishments. Data tells us that frequent employee recognition significantly boosts retention, performance, and belonging. Celebration isn’t just fun. It’s good business.
Finish a project on time? Celebrate.
Hit a long-term milestone? Celebrate.
Finally cleaned that one drawer in your house that you keep ignoring? Absolutely celebrate!
See your team collaborating at a higher level? Celebrate!
You don’t need confetti cannons or company-wide announcements. Just consistent acknowledgment, appreciation, and energy. This is one of the most underrated leadership development strategies of all.
Looking for a Space to Connect, Create & Celebrate? Join Us in Tuscany.
If you’re an insightful, growth-oriented woman ready to deepen your leadership journey, save the date for our Women’s Leadership Retreat in Tuscany, October 12–16, 2026. Registration is officially open, and you can sign up here. This retreat is designed for connection, creativity, reflection, and celebration.
Becoming a Stronger Leader in 2026 Starts With:
Clear values
Clear priorities
A commitment to connect
A willingness to create
And the intention to celebrate
When you adopt these principles, you’ll build the kind of leadership skills that shape not just your year, but your life. You’ll create true long-term impact. Here’s to a wonderful 2026 - you’ve got this! And we’re right here cheering you on.