1. A brief look ahead
First of all: Happy New Year to everyone who reads The Executive Briefing - and thank you for your trust, your interest, and the many thoughtful messages I receive.
With the start of 2026, the season of good intentions is back.
2. Why big resolutions rarely work
I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. Not because I’m opposed to change - quite the opposite. But because I’ve rarely seen profound change succeed when it’s tied to a specific date and launched with a big bang.
It strongly reminds me of large-scale transformation projects in corporations: ambitious goals, high expectations, comprehensive programs, a massive kick-off. And then? Reality sets in. People don’t fully buy in, assumptions turn out to be wrong, unexpected obstacles appear. At some point, energy fades and the project quietly stalls. Not because of bad intentions, but because it was overloaded and overwhelming.
Many New Year’s resolutions fail for exactly the same reasons.
3. What sustainable change really requires
From both my professional and personal experience, lasting change needs three things:
First, a good reason. “I should learn Spanish” is just as insufficient as “we need to become more efficient.” There needs to be a clear why. A compelling vision. Something that still feels right when things get uncomfortable.
Second, real incentives. I exercise regularly not because of discipline, but because I’ve found a sport I genuinely enjoy. Giving up alcohol became easier once I replaced it with evening rituals that actually do me good. The same applies in organizations: change only works when one question is clearly answered - what’s in it for me?
Third, small steps instead of grand promises. Atomic habits beat big resolutions. Small behavioral changes, consistently applied, have far more impact over time than ambitious goals that last six weeks and are then abandoned.
4. Change is not a New Year’s resolution - it’s a process
Sustainable development doesn’t start on January 1st. It starts on the day you take an honest look at yourself: What do I really want to change? Why is it worth it for me? And what is the smallest next step?
Everything else is often well-intentioned - but rarely effective.
5. My recommandation
Maybe this year is less about making resolutions and more about starting consciously. Not everything. Not all at once. But properly.
Because real change doesn’t need a new year. It needs clarity, incentives, and persistence in small steps.
