Strong leadership doesn’t wait for a better year—it builds one. As 2026 approaches, leaders must move beyond hope and annual goal announcements and commit to clear goals, honest conversations, and relentless follow-through. Organizations that thrive will be led by those who communicate constantly, hold teams accountable, and treat goals as living commitments rather than seasonal intentions.

Winning isn't accidental — it’s intentional. Inspired by Gene Kranz during Apollo 13, this piece explores how unwavering belief, accountability, and decisive action create a winning culture. When leaders anchor their why, empower smart debate, and commit to results, organizations stop trying and start winning.

In the 1830s, William Procter and James Gamble chose collaboration over rivalry, creating Procter & Gamble. Their story shows how cooperation sparks growth and transforms competition into shared progress. Leaders today can learn the same lesson: turf wars stall innovation, but engineered collaboration builds stronger teams, better ideas, and extraordinary results. True progress comes when people work together, not against each other.

Napoleon delayed opening his mail for three weeks, realizing most problems resolved themselves. This leadership lesson reminds us to resist the pull of urgency and focus on what truly matters. Leaders don’t need to solve every issue—they need to build teams that can. By shifting crises into coaching moments, leaders create decision-makers, strengthen resilience, and keep the mission front and center.