Growth Starts Within: Leadership Mindset for a Stronger 2026

While I was spending time over Christmas and New Year’s with my family, I found myself falling into my usual routine of baking cookies, watching television shows, and of course reading inspirational books to jump start the year ahead. With the rise of leadership books, podcasts, and social media content, it can be easy to fall into rabbit holes of what to do, say, or bring to your team in the new year. And while I have thoroughly enjoyed my fair share of this content, I have found that the biggest growth for a positive team culture and an enthusiastic start to the year truly comes from within.

When I approach leadership, I often think about my team as if they are in an airport. Having spent plenty of time navigating TSA lines, airport gates, and the dreaded middle seat, I have realized airports are a raw place to observe humans in emotionally stimulating environments. Once we are on the plane, we all share the same goal of arriving at the final destination, but we are each carrying our own baggage and interpersonal responsibilities.

We may follow similar routines throughout the day, but there is always baggage we cannot see. Between kids, oversized suitcases, almost missing a flight, and everything in between, there is a level of humanity and understanding that needs to exist in an airport environment, not just to survive it, but to make it through without pulling your hair out in the process.

Leadership comes with its own baggage, too, baggage we check at the airport once we arrive. Even if no one else can see it or know about it, we know it is there. Expectations, pressure, decision fatigue, and the responsibility to show up steady when things feel uncertain do not magically disappear just because the calendar flips to January.

What I have learned, and continue to learn, is that the way we carry that baggage sets the tone for everyone else. Teams can feel when a leader is reactive, rushed, or emotionally overloaded. Just like in an airport, one tense interaction can ripple outward. On the flip side, calm, clarity, and empathy are contagious. A leader who pauses, listens, and responds with intention gives others permission to do the same.

This is where growth really starts, internally. Before new initiatives, goals, or strategies take hold, leadership mindset has to be addressed. How are we showing up when things go wrong? How do we handle conflict, uncertainty, or change? Are we creating space for our teams to feel supported while still holding them accountable? These questions do not have flashy answers, but they have powerful ones.

Growth does not start with a new book, a new system, or a perfectly polished plan. Those tools matter, but they work best when paired with intentional leadership. Growth starts with mindset, with checking our own baggage, choosing how we carry it, and creating an environment where people feel safe enough to bring their whole selves along for the journey.

If we want a stronger, healthier, and more aligned 2026, the work begins within, long before we ever take off. As you head into the year, here are a few challenges to reflect on as you shape your leadership mindset.

1. Audit Your Own “Baggage” Before Addressing Your Team

Pause regularly to reflect on what you are carrying into the room, whether it is stress, assumptions, frustration, or pressure to have it all figured out. Before reacting or making decisions, ask yourself if this is about the team or about what you are carrying today. Leaders who take responsibility for their own emotional load create calmer, more stable environments where teams can truly thrive.

2. Lead with Awareness, Not Assumption

Challenge yourself to replace assumptions with curiosity. Your team members arrive each day with invisible responsibilities and challenges, just like travelers rushing through an airport. Ask better questions, listen more intentionally, and respond with empathy before jumping to conclusions. This does not mean lowering expectations. It means building trust, which leads to stronger performance and accountability.

3. Model the Behavior You Want Multiplied

Your team will mirror how you handle pressure, change, and uncertainty. Be intentional about staying steady when things go sideways, communicating clearly during transitions, and regulating your emotions on hard days. When leaders model calm, clarity, and consistency, teams feel safer, more engaged, and more willing to grow alongside you.

Ready to turn mindset into momentum?

At Kinetic Greenhouse, we help leaders and teams bring clarity to their message, alignment to their strategy, and intention to their marketing. If you are ready to support your growth in 2026 with marketing that reflects who you are and where you are headed, we would love to connect.