As we head toward Christmas, I’m reminded how powerful small, consistent steps can be—not just in leadership, but in life.
John Kotter’s eighth principle of change, Embrace Continuous Improvement, lands especially well this time of year.
And there’s no better example than Jesus himself whom we will celebrate in just a couple of days!
He was unmistakably clear on His vision. The historical accounts show a leader who walked patiently with His disciples for three years, encouraging small shifts, growth moments, mindset changes—day by day.
Those incremental steps formed the largest, most influential movement in human history.
That’s the power of steady, intentional improvement.
As you prepare for 2026, let me encourage you:
You don’t need a massive overhaul.
You just need the next 1% step.
Maybe that’s deepening connection with your team.
Maybe it’s removing one unnecessary barrier.
Maybe it’s refining your vision, your habits, or your leadership presence.
Whatever it is, choose one thing—then commit to improving it just a little every day.
That’s how momentum builds.
That’s how cultures shift.
That’s how leaders transform themselves and those they serve.
Wishing you all the best during this festive season.
May God bless you richly as we anticipate the best year ever to come in 2026!
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As we head toward Christmas, I’m reminded how powerful small, consistent steps can be—not just in leadership, but in life.
John Kotter’s eighth principle of change, Embrace Continuous Improvement, lands especially well this time of year.
And there’s no better example than Jesus himself whom we will celebrate in just a couple of days!
He was unmistakably clear on His vision. The historical accounts show a leader who walked patiently with His disciples for three years, encouraging small shifts, growth moments, mindset changes—day by day.
Those incremental steps formed the largest, most influential movement in human history.
That’s the power of steady, intentional improvement.
As you prepare for 2026, let me encourage you:
You don’t need a massive overhaul.
You just need the next 1% step.
Maybe that’s deepening connection with your team.
Maybe it’s removing one unnecessary barrier.
Maybe it’s refining your vision, your habits, or your leadership presence.
Whatever it is, choose one thing—then commit to improving it just a little every day.
That’s how momentum builds.
That’s how cultures shift.
That’s how leaders transform themselves and those they serve.
Wishing you all the best during this festive season.
May God bless you richly as we anticipate the best year ever to come in 2026!
As we head toward Christmas, I’m reminded how powerful small, consistent steps can be—not just in leadership, but in life.
John Kotter’s eighth principle of change, Embrace Continuous Improvement, lands especially well this time of year.
And there’s no better example than Jesus himself whom we will celebrate in just a couple of days!
He was unmistakably clear on His vision. The historical accounts show a leader who walked patiently with His disciples for three years, encouraging small shifts, growth moments, mindset changes—day by day.
Those incremental steps formed the largest, most influential movement in human history.
That’s the power of steady, intentional improvement.
As you prepare for 2026, let me encourage you:
You don’t need a massive overhaul.
You just need the next 1% step.
Maybe that’s deepening connection with your team.
Maybe it’s removing one unnecessary barrier.
Maybe it’s refining your vision, your habits, or your leadership presence.
Whatever it is, choose one thing—then commit to improving it just a little every day.
That’s how momentum builds.
That’s how cultures shift.
That’s how leaders transform themselves and those they serve.
Wishing you all the best during this festive season.
May God bless you richly as we anticipate the best year ever to come in 2026!
Ever notice how starting change is easy… but sustaining it quietly breaks most leaders?
Kotter’s research is blunt: this is where change efforts die.
We love the early momentum—the excitement, the quick wins, the buzz.
But once the novelty fades? Discipline decides the outcome.
I learned this the hard way. In my early 20s I would save aggressively… then undo half my progress because a shiny new TV caught my eye. The problem wasn’t my goal—it was my ability to stay the course.
Organisations fall into the same trap.
A few wins land, confidence rises… then focus drifts, attention scatters, and acceleration stalls. Before long, the “change effort” becomes a dusty guitar in the corner—full of potential, but untouched.
Reflection:
Where have you lost momentum in your leadership?
And what’s the “dusty guitar” you need to pick back up?
Ever been part of a team that starts strong, then slowly loses steam?
A few setbacks, a little negativity, and suddenly, the vision feels heavy.
John Kotter’s sixth principle of change reminds us: celebrate the small wins.
Change is hard. Progress isn’t always obvious. But when we stop and remind our teams of how far we’ve come, we reignite belief and motivation.
Research by Amabile and Kramer calls this “the progress principle” — the most powerful driver of performance is seeing progress in meaningful work.
So, here’s the challenge: What small win could you celebrate today?
It might be a finished task, a difficult conversation handled well, or simply a team that keeps showing up.
Celebrate it. Name it.
Because small wins fuel big change.
You’ve had a brilliant idea. It solves a client problem, adds value, and you’re excited… but your boss says, “No.”
Demoralising, right?
Now flip it — you’re the leader, your team brings you an idea mid-deadline, and you shut it down because there’s just no time.
We’ve all done it.
John Kotter’s fifth principle of change is simple: enable action by removing barriers.
Barriers like fear, approvals, or lack of trust quietly kill innovation.
Real leadership removes the friction.
Simplify the process.
Encourage experimentation.
And when someone fails trying to make things better — thank them, don’t punish them.
Here’s a truth few leaders like to hear: most of us under-communicate our vision by a factor of ten.
I’m reminded of my holiday ownership group. Each time I visit a resort, I attend a short update — and every time, the presenter shares the same vision of the company. At first, I thought it was repetitive. But over time, I realised it worked. Hearing it again and again made me believe in the vision — and yes, it even made me want to buy more credits!
It probably feels like over-communication to the presenters. But it’s not. It’s clarity, consistency, and conviction.
If your team can’t explain your vision without you in the room, you haven’t communicated it enough.
Where are you going?
If you and your people don’t clearly understand the destination—and why it matters—you won’t get there. Simple, right? Yet so often, leaders forget to define or communicate the vision.
John Kotter once said, “If you can’t communicate the vision in five minutes and get a reaction of both understanding and interest—you’re not done.” In 2024, that’s more like 30 seconds.
When I began building my new business, it wasn’t the strategy that kept me going—it was the vision. The belief that what I was building mattered. That clarity was the difference between quitting and persevering.
So—how clear is your vision? Could your team explain it in 30 seconds?
Great ideas often don’t fail because of lack of smarts—they fail on lack of coalition.
Early in my career, I watched a brilliant idea collapse—not because it was wrong, but because two influential people weren’t on board. They didn’t block it openly; they simply withdrew their support. Within months, the organisation unravelled.
That experience taught me: ideas don’t drive change—people do.
John Kotter called it a guiding coalition—a small, trusted group of influencers from all levels who believe in the vision and help carry it. These people create momentum, ease resistance, and build trust before a single process changes.
Who are the influencers in your world—the people others listen to, even when they’re not “in charge”? Have you brought them in early enough?
Learn how to build real alignment and lasting change:
calendar.leadernexus.com.au/widget/bookings/discovery-leader-nexus
As we head toward Christmas, I’m reminded how powerful small, consistent steps can be—not just in leadership, but in life.
John Kotter’s eighth principle of change, Embrace Continuous Improvement, lands especially well this time of year.
And there’s no better example than Jesus himself whom we will celebrate in just a couple of days!
He was unmistakably clear on His vision. The historical accounts show a leader who walked patiently with His disciples for three years, encouraging small shifts, growth moments, mindset changes—day by day.
Those incremental steps formed the largest, most influential movement in human history.
That’s the power of steady, intentional improvement.
As you prepare for 2026, let me encourage you:
You don’t need a massive overhaul.
You just need the next 1% step.
Maybe that’s deepening connection with your team.
Maybe it’s removing one unnecessary barrier.
Maybe it’s refining your vision, your habits, or your leadership presence.
Whatever it is, choose one thing—then commit to improving it just a little every day.
That’s how momentum builds.
That’s how cultures shift.
That’s how leaders transform themselves and those they serve.
Wishing you all the best during this festive season.
May God bless you richly as we anticipate the best year ever to come in 2026!
