Another year-end, another full calendar, and a to-do list that somehow multiplied overnight. Between closing out projects, prepping for 2026 strategy sessions, and pretending you still enjoy Mariah Carey in November, it’s easy to barrel into the new year without pausing to think about what this one actually meant.
Reflection isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership practice that sharpens awareness, strengthens perspective, and gives shape to what comes next. A proper year-end review connects the dots between what happened, why it mattered, and how you want to grow from it.
In my work with senior leaders, I’ve noticed a pattern: the most grounded, effective leaders are the ones who create space to look back before they leap forward. They don’t just plan the next year; they design it, informed by what they’ve learned.
So before the year fully slips away, take a breath, clear a bit of space, and use these three steps to bring focus, insight, and intention to the year ahead, with this updated version of one of last year’s most-read articles.
STEP 1: REFLECT ON YOUR YEAR
Set the stage for deep reflection: Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. Bring something to capture your thoughts: a journal, tablet, or voice recorder. Give yourself at least an hour. No multitasking.
Think of your year as a chapter in your leadership story. In this first step, reflect on the themes that defined it, the standout moments, and what this chapter reveals about the way you lead.
Now, broaden your reflection by answering the questions in each of these four lenses:
What worked? Where did you feel most in alignment, energized, creative, effective, or proud? What conditions made that possible? A senior VP client once discovered that her best results came not from working harder, but from delegating smarter. Her success story inspired a new talent-development framework for her division.
What didn’t? This isn’t about blame; it’s about pattern recognition. What created friction? Which choices drained you or your team? Another client noticed that every January, he overloaded himself with projects that didn’t advance his long-term goals. His takeaway: “If it isn’t essential to my strategy, it’s a no.”
What surprised you? Growth often hides in the unexpected. What moments tested or stretched you? What strengths surfaced under pressure that you hadn’t recognized before? One of my clients told me she was surprised by how well her team handled a crisis while she was away on vacation. It revealed the depth of trust she’d built and helped her see she didn’t need to control every detail for things to run smoothly.
What will you leave behind? Progress requires subtraction as much as addition. What beliefs, habits, or commitments no longer serve you? What is ready to be retired so something better can take its place? A few years ago, I realized I was hanging on to an old assumption that productivity equaled value. Letting go of that mindset opened the door to more creative, higher-impact work and helped me redefine what progress really looks like.
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR
After sifting through your reflections, distill what matters most into a single word: your North Star for the year ahead.
This word isn’t a goal. It’s a compass that anchors your decisions, priorities, and mindset when life gets noisy.
How to find it: Notice recurring themes in your reflection. Ask what feeling, value, or intention you want to embody next year. Pick a word that feels alive, not trendy but meaningful.
For one CFO client, balancing an intense workload with parenting, the word was Presence. It reminded her to show up fully wherever she was, whether in the boardroom or at the dinner table. Another client leading a manufacturing firm chose Innovate, inspired by a bold pilot that exceeded expectations and revealed the creative depth of his team.
Once you’ve chosen your word, make it visible. Write it on the first page of your planner, set it as your phone wallpaper, or put it somewhere you’ll see every day.
Need inspiration? Here’s a curated list of words leaders often choose, each carrying its own focus and significance:
Abundance: seeing opportunity rather than scarcity. Alignment: bringing goals, actions, and values into harmony. Authenticity: leading as your truest self. Balance: finding your rhythm between work and life. Bravery: taking intelligent risks and making bold calls. Clarity: communicating and deciding with precision. Collaboration: creating shared success instead of silos. Compassion: leading with humanity and understanding. Confidence: backing your judgment and your voice. Connection: building trust and relationships that matter. Creativity: thinking differently and experimenting often. Curiosity: staying open, asking questions, and learning relentlessly. Discipline: doing what matters even when it’s hard. Focus: protecting your attention from distraction. Freedom: simplifying commitments to create more space. Generosity: giving time, knowledge, or mentorship freely. Gratitude: finding joy and recognition in everyday wins. Growth: stretching beyond comfort zones. Impact: contributing something meaningful and lasting. Integrity: doing what’s right, not what’s easy. Joy: rediscovering lightness and energy in your work. Learning: staying a student of your own leadership. Presence: being fully engaged in every conversation. Resilience: staying steady through turbulence. Simplicity: cutting through clutter to what truly matters. Trust: building confidence in yourself and others. Vision: leading toward something bigger than today.
STEP 3: TURN INSIGHT INTO ACTION
Reflection without movement is just rumination. Here’s how to turn insight into traction:
Turn lessons into systems. If you noticed overcommitment, build a “decision filter.” One of my clients now asks herself before saying yes: Will this move me closer to or further from my vision?
Embed your word into habits. If your word is Balance, maybe it means no emails after 8 p.m. or saying yes only to projects that energize, not deplete. Whatever your word, find a way to live it through daily choices.
Share it. Accountability creates traction. Share your word with a colleague, coach, or your team. I once worked with a leader who revealed her word, Transparency, to her staff and invited them to hold her to it. That act alone shifted her team’s communication culture.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Leadership isn’t only about achieving outcomes. It’s also about evolving. A year-end review helps you see the through-lines in your growth: the moments when your instincts were right, when you adapted, and when you learned something worth carrying forward.
When you understand where you’ve been, you lead yourself and others with greater clarity and conviction.
Before the December noise takes over, take that pause. Reflect. Choose your next chapter with intention.
YOUR COACHING CHALLENGE
Book a one-hour meeting with yourself. Use the reflection questions above, choose your Word of the Year, and then identify one concrete shift you’ll make in January that aligns with it. Reach out for a free exploratory Executive Coaching conversation at www.leslierohonczy.com.
And to all of you who’ve been reading my articles this year: thank you for being part of this growing community of leaders who reflect deeply, speak honestly, and stay courageous in their commitment to evolving with integrity. Thank you for your continued engagement, inspiration, and thoughtful messages that keep these conversations alive. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season, time to recharge, and a New Year filled with clarity, connection, and courage.