This post builds off last week’s post that introduced my leadership themes for 2026. For each theme I chose for this year, I want to help you understand my thinking by addressing the following questions:
Why did I choose this particular theme?
How does this theme apply to leadership?
Exploring My 2026 Leadership Themes
Theme 1: I am pursuing my calling to bring order out of chaos, guiding myself and others toward clarity and peace.
Why this theme?
I noticed an alarming trend in 2025; I found myself subconsciously thinking, “It should not be this hard.” Newsflash — leadership IS HARD. More importantly, there is a deeper reality that I discovered through my Bible reading: I am called to bring order to chaos.
How does this theme apply to leadership?
This theme helps me clarify the next action to bring things back to order. As my doctor reminded me last fall, “Chaos is the norm, its lack is the exception.” Life is chaotic; focusing on this theme helps ground me when the chaos inevitably arrives.
Theme 2: I am choosing to speak from a place of hope — focusing on what I am for, not what I am against.
Why this theme?
It is easy to get wrapped up in the politicization of every aspect of American life. It is the elixir of our time, and it leads to serious indigestion regardless of what “side” you are on. Said bluntly, I do not want to give in to being that kind of person. Instead, I want to be known as someone for Jesus. I am okay if people hate me for that. But is my love for Jesus the first thing people know me for? Or am I known for the things I am against (even sports teams)?
How does this theme apply to leadership?
People follow vision. Vision is where we are going and what we are for. Speaking about what I am for is vision casting.
Theme 3: I am cultivating a slowed-down, flexible spirituality that continually asks, “What is good for my soul right now?
Why this theme?
I am constantly in a self-improvement and/or productivity rush. I get things done. And it often leaves me tired all the time or mentally burnt out. This leads me to be a grouch, complaining about what isn’t working or focusing on what I don’t want — what I am against.
I also realize that I often become too rigid in my plans; there are days when I need to scrap the plan and be flexible.
How does this theme apply to leadership?
I do not lead well when I am spiritually hurried and unhealthy. When I am this way, I do not see people accurately, and I’m unable to take good care of them. I need to slow down and prioritize my soul health so I can gain the resilience to lead well.
Theme 4: I am practicing intentional solitude, with regular times on my calendar devoted simply to being with God.
Why this theme?
I learned in 2025 that even though I wanted to practice slowed-down spirituality, it didn’t happen like it should have because I hadn’t scheduled time for it. This theme is very similar to the previous one, but I think there’s value in including it here — it will help me hold myself accountable for turning my desire to slow down into actual practice.
How does this theme apply to leadership?
Peter Scazzero says, “You cannot give what you do not possess.” Slowing down, connecting with God in solitude, sounds very “new age.” What I have discovered is that it allows me to reconnect with the power source of life and become life-giving rather than life-sucking. Which one would you follow?