#92 - Designing your best 2026!

17 Dec 25

2026 isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you can design.

The most fulfilled professionals don’t rely on vague resolutions; they make intentional, aligned plans across their career, skills, finances, and personal lives. This Springboard Spotlight! breaks down what to plan for, why it matters, and how to create a practical, motivating roadmap for 2026. One that supports both ambition and wellbeing.

If you want 2026 to be the year you grow with purpose (not burnout), this is your blueprint.

What?

What should you be planning for 2026?

Planning your year holistically ensures progress in one area doesn’t come at the expense of another. For 2026, focus on four interconnected pillars:

1. Career Growth
   Your desired role, title or level by the end of 2026,
   Key responsibilities or leadership scope you want to expand into,
   Visibility and influence within your organisation or industry,
   Ask yourself: What does 'progress' actually look like for me next year?
2. Professional Development
   Skills that will keep you relevant in a fast-changing job market,
   Certifications, courses or learning experiences to pursue,
   Mentors, sponsors or communities you want to learn from,
   Think less about collecting credentials and more about building capability and confidence.
3. Personal Growth & Wellbeing
   Energy, health and boundaries you want to protect,
   Habits that support focus, creativity and resilience,
   Time for relationships, rest and personal interests,
   Success is unsustainable without wellbeing and 2026 is your chance to build both.
4. Financial Goals
   Income targets or compensation milestones,
   Savings, investments or debt reduction goals,
   Financial systems that reduce stress and increase options,
   Money isn’t the goal; freedom and security are.

Why?

Why intentional planning changes everything...

Many professionals enter a new year with motivation but no structure. By March, urgency replaces intention.

Here’s why planning now sets you apart:

1. Clarity beats hustle
   Clear goals reduce decision fatigue and help you say no to distractions that don’t serve your long-term vision.
2. Alignment prevents burnout
   When your career goals align with your values, energy, and financial reality, progress feels sustainable not exhausting.
3. The market rewards preparation
   Opportunities rarely announce themselves in advance. The professionals who benefit most are already skilled, visible and ready.
4. Small moves compound
   Consistent, strategic actions over 12 months outperform last-minute sprints every time.
   In short: planning turns hope into momentum.

How?

How to plan a powerful 2026 (without overwhelm). 

Step 1: Define your 2026 vision

Write a short future snapshot:

Where are you working?
What are you known for?
How do your days feel?

This vision becomes your decision-making filter.

Step 2: Set 3–5 anchor goals

Choose a small number of high-impact goals across the four pillars. For example:

Earn a promotion or transition roles,
Master one in-demand skill,
Save or invest a specific amount,
Protect one non-negotiable wellbeing habit.

Less goals = more execution.

Step 3: Translate goals into Quarterly focus areas

Break the year into themes:

Q1: Skill-building & foundations,
Q2: Visibility & application,
Q3: Expansion & stretch opportunities,
Q4: Review, negotiate, and reset.

Quarterly focus keeps plans flexible and realistic.

Step 4: Build systems, not willpower

Block time for learning and reflection,
Automate savings and investments,
Schedule check-ins with mentors or accountability partners,
Systems keep you moving even when motivation dips.

Step 5: Review and recalibrate

Set monthly or quarterly reviews to ask:

What’s working?
What’s draining me?
What needs to change?

Progress isn’t linear - adaptability is a strength.

In Summary

The most successful professionals don’t wait for clarity...they create it! Planning your 2026 isn’t about rigid control; it’s about giving yourself direction, confidence and choice.

As you look ahead, remember:

• Growth is intentional,

• Balance is strategic,

• And your future deserves more than autopilot.

Here’s to a 2026 designed with clarity, courage and momentum.

Stay curious. Stay intentional. Keep springboarding forward!

Have a great festive break and I'll see you all in 2026!

Whenever you're ready, here's how I can help you:

1. Resources - Reading is an essential component to developing your own authentic leadership style. Check out my resources page for really inspiring books which I have found invaluable within my own leadership journey,
2. Springboard Store - Check out my store where you will find a mixture of FREE and paid products.
3. Leadership Skills Evaluator - If you are an experienced leader, how do you assess if your current skillset is up to date, or if you have any gaps? Or understand if it is developed enough to equip you for the next two roles? This is where the Leadership Skills Evaluator comes in. Answer 30 questions spread across 10 key leadership areas to assess your current capability. It's absolutely FREE to take the assessment, and you will receive a personalised report delivered immediately into your Inbox on completion! Here's the link.