5 Questions to Start the New Year with Leadership Clarity

The start of a new year often brings pressure to move quickly. New initiatives, budget decisions, staffing challenges, and community expectations compete for leaders’ attention all at once.

Yet strong leadership does not begin with urgency. It begins with clarity.

At Government Leadership Solutions, we see again and again that the most effective local government leaders take time to pause, reflect, and intentionally align their priorities, behaviors, and culture before moving forward. Our December Leadership Playbook was designed with that purpose in mind.

Below are five leadership questions to help local government leaders start the new year with clarity, focus, and intention.

Why Leadership Clarity Matters in Local Government

Local government leadership operates within complexity. Leaders must balance public accountability, workforce well-being, limited resources, and long-term community impact.

Without clarity:

• Everything feels urgent
• Priorities compete instead of aligning
• Burnout increases
• Trust erodes

Clarity is not about doing more. It is about making clear choices and leading with intention.

These five questions can be used individually for reflection or collectively with leadership teams during retreats, kickoffs, or strategic planning sessions.

1. What Should We Stop Doing to Make Space for What Matters Most?

Leadership clarity often begins with letting go.

Over time, organizations accumulate processes, habits, and expectations that once served a purpose but no longer create meaningful value. Continuing them simply because “we’ve always done it this way” drains energy and focus.

Reflection prompts:

• Where are we investing time that no longer aligns with our mission or values?
• What expectations feel outdated or performative?
• What can we stop to make room for higher-impact work?

Leadership practice:

Model courage by naming what no longer serves the organization and giving permission to evolve.

2. What Will We Intentionally Prioritize This Year, and Why?

Clarity is not about doing everything well. It is about choosing what truly matters.

Without shared priorities, everything becomes urgent and teams struggle to make consistent decisions. Intentional prioritization helps leaders communicate clearly, manage tradeoffs, and protect focus throughout the year.

Reflection prompts:

• What outcomes will most benefit our people, organization, and community?
• How do our priorities reflect our stated values?
• What will we say “no” to in order to protect these priorities?

Leadership practice:

Revisit priorities regularly and communicate them often, especially when difficult tradeoffs arise.

3. What Culture Will We Actively Model as Leaders?

Culture is shaped by leadership behavior, not mission statements.

How leaders show up, especially under pressure, sets the tone for the entire organization. This question shifts culture from an abstract idea to a daily leadership responsibility.

Reflection prompts:

• How do we want people to feel when they show up to work?
• What behaviors will we consistently demonstrate, even in moments of stress?
• How do we address mistakes, conflict, and accountability?

Leadership practice:

Lead with love by pairing high expectations with empathy, respect, and trust.

4. How Will We Support the Growth and Well-Being of Our People?

People are the strategy.

When leaders invest in growth, well-being, and belonging, performance and trust follow. Supporting people does not mean lowering standards. It means creating the conditions for success.

Reflection prompts:

• How are we developing skills, confidence, and leadership capacity?
• Where can we create more psychological safety and open dialogue?
• How do we recognize learning, effort, and progress, not just outcomes?

Leadership practice:

Check in often. Ask thoughtful questions. Make space for learning and recovery.

5. What Does Success Look Like One Year from Now, and How Will We Know?

A clear vision of success keeps leaders grounded and aligned throughout the year.

Success should be measured not only by results, but by how those results are achieved. This question connects daily leadership decisions to long-term impact.

Reflection prompts:

• What will be noticeably different if we lead well this year?
• How will trust, culture, or engagement improve?
• What qualitative and quantitative indicators will tell us we are on track?

Leadership practice:

Celebrate progress along the way and course-correct with curiosity, not blame.

Leadership Clarity Is an Ongoing Practice

Clarity is not a one-time exercise at the start of the year. It is an ongoing leadership practice.

These five questions are an invitation to lead with intention, align with values, and create the conditions for people and organizations to thrive. Strong leadership starts with clear choices and the courage to act on them.

If you are preparing for a strategic planning session or year-ahead reset, these questions can serve as a powerful starting point.

Schedule a capabilities briefing to explore how we can help your leadership Team start the year with clarity.