New Year, New Goals? First Ask This: What Season of Leadership Are You In?

January is loud.

Everywhere you look, leaders are being told to set bigger goals, move faster, and start strong. But what if the reason you feel stuck, unclear, or overwhelmed right now isn’t a motivation problem or a discipline problem?

What if it’s a season problem?

In this New Year–focused episode, Alan Briggs helps leaders slow down just enough to ask a better question before setting goals for 2026:

What season of leadership am I actually in right now?

Because when goals don’t match seasons, leaders burn out, teams get frustrated, and momentum stalls.

This conversation reframes New Year goal-setting through the lens of leadership awareness, helping you name where you’ve been, where you are, and what kinds of actions actually make sense in this season of life and leadership.

And stay to the end — Jonathan tees up a brand new series launching next week: The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader, designed to help you lead with both health and high impact in 2026.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why January goal-setting often creates pressure instead of clarity

• How to identify the season of leadership you’re currently in

• Why the question “What time is it for you?” matters more than resolutions

• How leadership seasons show up across work, family, health, and relationships

• Why ignoring seasons is one of the fastest paths to burnout

• How to pair the right actions with the season you’re actually living in

Reflection Questions (for early January clarity)

Don’t rush these. These questions are meant to ground your New Year, not hype it.

• What season of leadership are you coming out of?

• When did (or will) that season end?

• What season are you in right now — or clearly heading into?

• What should you say yes to in this season?

• What should you say no to in this season?

• What feels uncertain, scary, or disorienting about this transition?

These are powerful to work through alone — and even more powerful with a spouse, trusted friend, or leadership team.

What’s Coming Next

Next week, we launch a new series walking through The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader — how to identify them, strengthen them, and lead in a way that’s both sustainable and impactful.

If you’re starting this year wanting clarity instead of chaos, you’re in the right place.

Call to Action

For more leadership resources, coaching, and tools to help you lead with health and high impact, visit www.h2leadership.com.

If this episode helped reframe your New Year:

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• Share this episode with a leader who feels pressure to “get it right” this year