The leadership skill hidden in failed resolutions

Unfinished doesn't always equal unsuccessful.

This morning, I went out for my usual walk. It was sunny, which already felt like a gift in the middle of winter. But I noticed something else. There were so many runners out. And it clicked. Resolution season is upon us.

The runners and walkers around me were at the start of something new. A focus they had chosen. A challenge they decided to take on. As my excitement and pride for them grew, I realized how backwards our thinking around resolutions really is.

If we only run for four days, we failed. If we cut out caffeine for a week, we failed. If we don’t complete a full 365-day challenge, failure. With this mindset, resolutions become another way we set ourselves up for failure. Another system where anything short of perfect doesn’t count.

Pause to acknowledge effort and progress, and something shifts.

We spend so much time focusing on what we didn’t do, what didn’t happen, or what hasn’t happened yet, that we miss what did happen. What I saw on the path this morning wasn’t failure waiting to happen. It was effort. People trying something new. Action and progress. That same shift matters just as much in leadership and business.

When leaders consistently acknowledge effort and progress, something changes.

Momentum builds.Confidence stabilizes.People stay engaged instead of burned out.

This isn’t about lowering the bar or abandoning goals. It’s about measuring success in a way to sustain growth. A leadership skill worth practicing.

A Reflection for You 

Before you move on to your next thing, try this.

Write down everything you made progress on this week. No matter how small.

The meeting you prepared for. The conversation you didn’t avoid. The walk you took.

Notice how it feels to see all your progress in one place.

A Question for Your Team

Try this prompt:

“What’s one thing we made progress on, even if it’s not perfect yet?”

Share the answers. Sit with them. Let the "almosts" count.

You may be surprised at how the conversation evolves.

Keep the Conversation Going

Solidify your reflection by sharing it with me. Comment here or email me at brooke@45degrees.org for accountability and community. Even a quick note counts.

Progress matters. Effort counts. And momentum is built one imperfect step at a time.

Stay Great,

Brooke, Diane and your 45° Coaching Team