How to Lead Like You're Sticking Around

There’s a different tone in the air so far this January. A good shift, too… one that’s giving less proving mode and more active presence.

The fireworks are over, as evidenced by the mountain of trash left in the park when my kids and I arrived on scene. The chaos of last year is… settling, now that reinvention is progressing as needed. And the quiet fatigue of surviving another messy, uncertain stretch? Donezo.

This year starts with a different kind of momentum. One I’m subscribing to, leaning in on… all the analogies and book titles. This momentum is different.

It’s the call to lead like you’re sticking around.

Here’s what that means: It means leading with architecture (though actionable!), and not adrenaline (or abject terror). The frantic pace of the last few years trained many of us to operate on short sprints, like a quarterly survival race that we know left little room for sustainability. Even I, personally, made decks in the dark and built campaigns on cortisol. 2026 needs less chaos, and is crying out for more clarity.

It also means showing your team what long-game leadership looks like. They’ve seen plenty of temporary or empty-ghost leaders… those that hold on by a thread, who wait for approval, who focus only on headcount, who wait for the better job.

My plan is to challenge it. What if! What if they saw something different? They need an adult in the room who still remembers how to dream. And… ultimately… how to get the work done.

What if they saw a leader who:

• Set priorities with intention

• Said no with confidence

• Made moves with a vision

• Built trust without needing applause

To lead like you’re sticking around doesn’t mean you’re stuck or that you’ve committed to a corner forever. And it certainly doesn’t mean you’ve figured out every twist of your winding career path.

It just means not managing your team like a placeholder.

No hedging of energy, but choosing to give it all. To make this quarter count. To have this window of time reflect your values, your standards, your clarity.

Because while everyone else is performing leadership…

You’ll practice it.