A New Year, A New View

The early days of January often come with a strange kind of silence. The pace is still slow, yet the inbox is starting to refill, and for most, there’s a quiet space where reflection is invited in.  

Maybe it was a challenging Christmas. A few words said too sharply, or not at all. Maybe the break wasn’t the rest you needed. Maybe, in trying to hold everything together, you ended up feeling more worn out than before. 

This time of year tends to bring with it a familiar tug: the pressure to do more, to be more, to start the year with energy and enthusiasm and big declarations. “New Year, New Me” rolls off the tongue easily. But often, underneath that energy is exhaustion, and underneath the resolutions lies a lack of self-belief.

What if, instead of trying to change everything about ourselves, we simply chose to change one thing of ourself.

That is, understanding others.

Sometimes, the most powerful change isn’t action, it’s perspective. The ability to pause, breathe, and look again. To ask: is there another way to understand this? Another way to respond? Another way to lead in work, in family, in community?

Stephen Covey wrote, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood”. It’s a powerful guide, not just for leadership but for living. And nowhere is that more important than in our relationships, especially when tension rises or communication falters. It’s easy to assume someone’s intent. It’s harder, but far more powerful, to lean in with curiosity instead of judgment.

So, if things weren’t perfect around you this Christmas, you’re not alone. If you’re carrying guilt about how you showed up, or didn’t, that’s okay too. We’re all learning. We all want to be heard, to be valued, to feel safe enough to speak, even when the words come out wrong.

As the year begins, there’s wisdom in keeping it simple. Let go of the pressure to reinvent everything overnight. Start small. The best changes are the quiet ones: a better question, a braver conversation, a softer response. The kind that shifts not just behaviour, but connection.

Instead of rushing into resolutions, ask what matters most. Vision boards and SMART goals are only meaningful when they reflect who you are becoming, not just what you want to tick off. The truth is, we don’t need louder goals, we need quieter clarity.

And, where to start? A generous view of others. Brené Brown said, “People are hard to hate close up. Move in”. This year, try moving closer, even when it feels easier to stand back.

Leadership is not about control. It’s about presence. Whether you’re managing a site or showing up for a friend, how you make people feel will linger far longer than anything you say or do.

This year, lead with hope. Not blind optimism, but the kind that’s anchored in reality and still chooses compassion. Hope for yourself, for your teams, for your people. Even if things aren’t perfect. Especially then. 

And if you’re looking for support, tools that help conversations flow better, that turn misunderstandings into clarity, that help your culture evolve in ways that are real and lasting, we’re here for that too.

Here’s to a year of intention, insight and impact.

It starts with you.