Start Stronger: Your First 30 Days of 2026

January often starts with clear intentions. 

But then, next thing you know, the calendar fills up. The emails floods back in. Meetings stack up. And before you know it, you’re working hard again without being clear about what matters most. 

That’s not a motivation problem. 
It’s a STRUCTURE problem. 

In this episode of the PMO Strategies podcast, I share a practical way for PMO and transformation leaders to start the year with focus, alignment, and momentum. 

Why resolutions fail leaders 

Most resolutions sound good: 
“I want to be more strategic.” 
“I want better alignment.” 
“I want the PMO to be seen as more valuable.” 

None of those tell you what to do on Monday morning. 

Strategic leaders don’t start the year with resolutions. They start with a decision about how they’re going to lead. 

The leadership decision that changes the year 

Instead of setting vague goals, make one leadership decision that becomes your filter. 

Examples: 

• “This year, I’ll prioritize decision-making over reporting.” 

• “This year, I’ll focus on fewer initiatives and deliver them visibly.”
• “This year, I’ll stop optimizing processes that don’t create outcomes.”
   

That decision shapes what you take on, what you push back on, and what you protect. 

Turn intention into a 30-day outcome 

January is where momentum gets built or quietly eroded. 

So don’t aim for a perfect annual plan. Aim for one 30-day outcome that: 

• is visible to leadership. 

• solves a real business problem.

• is achievable or clearly advanced in January.

 This isn’t about perfection. It’s about a credible start. 

Align before you execute 

Before you rush into action, align expectations. 

Start with your executive sponsor. This is not a status update. It’s a positioning conversation: “As we kick off the year, I want to confirm I’m focused on the right outcome. Based on what I’m seeing, this is what matters most right now. Does this solve the problem you’re most concerned about?” 

Then calibrate with key stakeholders and your team. 

Alignment now saves months of rework later. 

The weekly pacing plan 

Think in weekly leadership milestones, not task lists: 

• Week 1: Align and commit with key stakeholder groups 

• Week 2: Begin progress toward the outcome 

• Week 3: Show visible progress and communicate it
• Week 4: Deliver and communicate IMPACT 

That’s how strategic leaders pace their year. 

A strong year doesn’t come from better resolutions. It comes from clear decisions and intentional focus. 

That’s what this episode is about. 

👉 Click play above so you can define your leadership decision, lock your January outcome, and build a 30-day roadmap that holds once the pace picks up.