What are you the source of?
Welcome to 2026!
January is a chance for renewal and fresh starts, so to start your year out, I want to ask you a very important question:
What are you the source of?
You impact every room you enter before saying a single word, Leader.
Think of your presence like an ingredient being added into a giant pot of stew. When you are added into the mix, what changes?
We've all experienced a version of this when a heavy-handed authority figure joins a conversation or meeting--you can feel underlying tension materialize in the room as everyone starts speaking more cautiously. Or you've noticed the sudden hush in casual conversation as that person walks by.
We ALL have some kind of energetic impact everywhere we go in our lives, Leader. Like that ingredient in the stew, our presence fundamentally alters everything we touch. Are you adding heat? Are you muddling the overall flavor? Or do you add new brightness and vibrancy?
Let's start by shifting the original question: What would you like to be the source of?
Starting with Intention
I encourage you to start by getting clear on how you want to be impacting the groups you interact with. What is the effect you'd like to create?
Focus on putting this into the positive. Instead of saying, "I don't want to be the source of confusion." you might instead say, "My intention is to be the source of clarity."
Remember, our words are powerful and we shoot where we're aiming. If I'm wanting to "not be the source of confusion" I am still focused on "confusion."
Be clear in what you DO want to be instead of what you don't.
Your intention becomes your guidepost for your leadership. Come up with two or three ways of being that you would like to contribute in your world. When you reflect on impactful, positive leadershipqualities, what are the ones that resonate most for you?
For myself for example, I seek to be the source of curiosity, creativity, and good-humor. These qualities speak authentically to who I am as a person AND reflect what I value as great leadership skills.
Making Intention Reality
Once you're clear on where you're aiming (not where you're NOT aiming), you need to start practicing living into those intentions in your day-to-day interactions and life.
If your intention is to be curious, how do you have to behave to embody curiosity?
To find your answer, you could ask yourself, "What would someone do that would indicate to me that they are a curious person?" Answers could include "asking a lot of questions" or "acknowledging assumptions" or "seeking full data."
Observe your current behaviors and check in: How well are you already doing and where do you have room to go deeper? Don't be afraid if you notice you have room to expand--this is all good data and opportunity for you to lean into the learning.
The more you practice living into your intentions on a daily basis, the more natural they will become in your way of being.
If you're reflecting on these questions today and noticing that you've been inadvertently ruining the proverbial stew, I hear you. There's no need to beat yourself up--this awareness is 100% opportunity for you. You can't make a change until you see it.
Now's your chance to make the shift: What will you be the source of?
Further Listening & Reading
Take a listen to this very brief clip from Scott Allen where he talks about the concept "Leaders Create the Weather"
As always, if you found this useful or want to discuss any elements you notice in your own reflection, please reach out to me, Leaders.
Wishing you the best in the new year ahead!
