If you’re like me, you probably choose a “word of the year” to frame what you hope to focus on.
But this year, I almost didn’t do it.
I found myself questioning everything as I emerged from the holidays. It wasn’t dramatic or overblown, just a quiet, introspective look at what matters most to me at this point in my life and growth.
And it unintentionally led me to a word that just lit me up when I realized what I most needed from 2026:
Ease.
Not because I want the work to be easy. But because I want the way I approach it and get it done to be less frenetic.
As communications leaders, we’re carrying a lot right now.
High-stakes decisions.
Shifting expectations.
Pressure to be strategic, fast, and steady all at the same time.
So, choosing “ease” is deeply relevant for me. Here’s what it’s reminded me:
✨ When I listen with no desire to force the outcome, conversations are more productive
✨ When I focus on connection over sales performance, people open up
✨ When I trust what I see and hear, it’s easier to name what needs to happen next
I also realized that all aspects of my life actually work better when I view them through an “ease” lens. Yay for that!
If this is resonating, please reply back and share what’s coming up for you.
What might change for you as a communications leader if “ease” was the goal? Where does it feel really hard to access ease right now? And just generally, what are you trying to approach differently this year?
Topics like this invariably come up in the Strategic Communicators Collective, and members truly appreciate having a space to share them.
Sometimes the best clarity comes from simply naming and sharing what’s been sitting quietly beneath the surface.