6 Leadership Strategies to Start the Year Strong

As you dive into the start of a new year, it can feel like you’re hitting the ground running. I know how much is on your plate, and I want to make sure you feel supported along the way.

I’m here to share encouragement and guidance to help you navigate the inevitable ups and downs of leadership and to remind you that you have an abundance of resources within you!

Leadership at the start of a new year can feel overwhelming, with new children, families, and staff to support while maintaining a sense of calm and connection. So below are 6 Leadership Strategies which I am sharing as a way of helping you get your year off to a strong start. (I am sure you have your own rituals, but this might generate some new ideas or confirm that what you do is important)

Each strategy focuses on essential leadership skills like self-care, building trust, and effective communication. Think of these strategies as a way of laying strong foundations for yourself and your team, as you move into the year! 

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." 

– Peter Drucker

6 Leadership Strategies to Start the Year Strong

1. Prioritise Your Self-Care and Boundaries

As a leader, your energy sets the tone for your entire team. When you’re stretched thin, it shows in how you communicate and engage. I invite you this year to commit to regular practices that recharge you—whether that’s a morning walk, journaling, or leaving work on time.

Practical Tip:

• Create a "Wellness Contract" with yourself. Write down 2-3 non-negotiable self-care practices, and share them with a trusted peer or mentor to stay accountable.

• When you model self-care and uphold boundaries, you send a powerful message to your team that well-being is a priority for everyone.

2. Self-Regulation: Start Each Day Grounded

In moments of stress, our brains can default to reactive behaviours. By practicing self-regulation, you can approach challenges with more clarity and calmness, fostering trust within your team.

Example of a Self-Regulation Practice:

• Box Breathing: Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold for 4. Repeat this cycle three times.

• Morning Intention Setting: What energy do I want to bring to my conversations today? Write your intention in a notebook.

  When you regulate your own stress responses, you create a ripple effect that helps your team feel grounded too. You can find some free online resources within my website by following the link here.

3. Set the Tone for Connection

Building trust starts with the small, everyday moments of connection. Each conversation is an opportunity to strengthen relationships with your team, families, and children.

Examples of Powerful Connection Tools:

• Open-Ended Questions:“What’s been on your mind this week?”

  “How can I support you right now?”

• Active Listening Prompts:

  • Paraphrase: “It sounds like you’re saying…”

  • Acknowledge emotions: “That must have been challenging.”

• Trust Builders:Share a short personal story or challenge you’ve faced to model vulnerability and foster mutual understanding.

   

4. Reignite Your Team’s Purpose

Every new year is an opportunity to reconnect with your service’s shared vision and philosophy. When everyone is aligned, it strengthens commitment and motivation.

Prompt for a Team Exercise:

•  In your next team meeting, ask:“What drew you to this work initially? How does it show up in what you do every day?”This simple question invites reflection and inspires your team to reconnect with their “why.”

Short Exercise:

• Have team members pair up and share one goal they’d like to achieve this term that aligns with the service’s philosophy.. Write them on a shared board for accountability and inspiration.

5. Navigating New Dynamics

The start of the year often brings a mix of new staff, children, and families, alongside existing team members. Navigating these dynamics requires clear, open communication.

Practical Tips for Integration:

• Facilitate a Team Discussion:Ask: “What challenges might we face as we integrate new staff, families and children and how can we support each other through them?”Encourage your team to co-create strategies for managing potential tension, ensuring they feel ownership over the process.

• Create a Feedback Loop:Suggest a weekly 5-minute check-in for your team to share:

         “One thing that went well this week.”

         “One thing we could work on together.”

6. Create Space for Reflection

Reflection is a powerful engagement tool. It helps you and your team learn from experience and celebrate small wins, building momentum and engagement.

Example Prompts for Weekly Reflection:

• “What’s one thing we did really well this week?”

• “How did I contribute to creating a positive team environment?”

• “What’s one adjustment we could make to improve next week?”

Tip: Create a “Celebration Wall” in your staff room where team members can post notes about accomplishments and wins—big or small. It fosters a sense of community and positivity.

I hope you feel inspired to try one if not several of these strategies.

If you would like to explore how I can support your professional development needs, book a discovery call with me. I would love to help.