Stop, Start, Lead differently in 2026
Stop, Start, Lead differently in 2026
Happy New Year!
This morning, in my first coaching session of the year, I was reminded why January is such a dangerous month.
Not because people are lazy. Not because they lack ambition. But because they walk straight back into the same patterns – and then wonder why nothing changes.
The client was describing a meeting that hadn’t gone well.
“I look up when I’m thinking.”
“My executive leader was looking out the window, so he was obviously disinterested.”
“When I was interrupted, I took the hint and stopped contributing.”
And I thought: Here we go. The greatest hits album of self-sabotage. If any of this sounds familiar, read on.
1. “I look up when I’m thinking.”
Yes. Many people do.
In fact, around 70–80% of humans avert their gaze when cognitively processing. It’s a perfectly normal brain strategy.
But here is the leadership problem. While you are internally marshalling your brilliance, your audience may be reading:
uncertainty
evasiveness
disengagement
Your brain may be working hard. Your brand, however, is taking a hit.
Leadership is not just about what you are doing; it is about what your audience is reading.
Action for 2026:
Practise holding eye contact while thinking. Build it as a habit. And when you genuinely need to look away, do it with permission:
“Let me think about that for a moment.”
“If I reflect on that…”
Small phrases. Big authority shift.
(And yes, for those who find eye contact uncomfortable – including many neurodivergent leaders, this can be trained gently and safely. The key is choice, not avoidance.)
2. “My executive was looking out the window – so they were bored.”
Careful. You’ve just fallen into the same trap you want others to avoid. They may not be bored. They may be processing. They may be thinking. They may be doing exactly what you do. The issue is not where their eyes went. The issue is whether you are compelling enough to bring them back.
Action for 2026:
Hold your own eye contact – don’t retreat.
Use gesture deliberately to guide attention.
Adjust your posture and physical presence.
Sometimes a subtle shift in position reclaims the room.
Presence is magnetic. Use it.
3. “When I was interrupted, I stopped contributing.”
No. Just no. You are not paid to be polite furniture.
If you are interrupted, something is happening:
your structure may be weak
your delivery may be losing energy
your authority may not be landing
This is data. Not a verdict.
Action for 2026:
Address the interruption calmly: “I’ll just finish that thought.”
Analyse why it’s happening.
Adjust your pacing, tone, and structure so you hold the space.
Silence is not leadership. Contribution is.
The bigger pattern
We excuse behaviour. We tolerate poor dynamics. We tell ourselves stories. And then we wonder why influence feels hard.
So here is my invitation for 2026:
Stop the old interpretations.
Stop the automatic habits.
Stop shrinking in moments that matter.
And start again with intention, skill and authority.
Different strategies. Different outcomes. That’s leadership.
Let me know your thoughts.
Love,
Dr Louise Mahler