“Leaders today are expected to do more with less — and still inspire their teams.”
Behind the Scenes: A Training Room Moment
This week, I led a session called Digital Discipline: Turning Email and Teams into Tools for Driving Results and Execution.
The leaders in this program were sharp, committed, and eager to get more efficient — but what struck me most wasn’t their lack of skill. It was the sheer level of noise they were managing every day.
They were toggling between Outlook, Teams, and OneNote, chasing conversations, sorting through notifications, and constantly reacting to whatever popped up next. Sound familiar?
They weren’t unfocused — they were overstimulated. Their attention was divided, and their sense of control was slipping away. What they really needed wasn’t another productivity hack. They needed permission to pause, refocus, and choose what truly matters.
That’s the leadership story of our time.
The Challenge: Doing More with Less
As we head into 2026, the modern leader’s job description feels like an ever-expanding scroll. You’re expected to hit goals, motivate your team, adapt to change, and manage your own well-being — all at once.
But the deeper truth? It’s not just the workload that’s heavy. It’s the mental weight of leading in a world that never slows down.
Let’s break down the top challenges I see leaders facing right now.
- Leading Multi-Generational, Dispersed Teams
For the first time in history, we have five generations in the workforce — from Gen Z to those nearing retirement. Add remote work and multiple time zones, and suddenly the old “one-size-fits-all” leadership approach falls apart. Leaders must learn to translate vision across generations and geographies, finding connection points that transcend age and distance.
- Managing Change Fatigue and Burnout
The pace of change hasn’t just increased — it’s accelerated. Many leaders are change-fatigued before the next shift even arrives. The best leaders aren’t avoiding change; they’re reframing it. They create moments of stability; establishing clear priorities, human connection, and space to breathe, even when everything else feels uncertain.
(If you need a reset, download my free resource: 10+ Burnout Busters for Leaders Who Give Their All.)
- Balancing Productivity with Well-Being
When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to mistake activity for impact. True productivity is about intention, not always about an inbox at zero. Leaders who model sustainable work habits, taking breaks, setting focus hours, honoring personal time, send a powerful message: you matter more than your metrics.
- Building Trust Across Virtual and Hybrid Teams
Trust used to build organically, hallway chats, shared lunches, quick debriefs, or for virtual teams, open office hours, Friday Virtual Coffee, or virtual team activities. Now it takes intentional design. Leaders who thrive in hybrid environments create psychological safety through consistent communication, transparency, and genuine curiosity. They don’t just check in; they connect in.
Own Your Take: Leadership Isn’t Broken — It’s Evolving
The biggest misconception I see? That leaders today are failing because they’re overwhelmed. The truth is, leaders if they are struggling with success need to redefine their leadership role. Great leaders in 2025 and into 2026, they’re learning to lead differently with empathy, flexibility, and focus.
Your challenge isn’t to do more — it’s to do what matters most.
Link It Back: Your Next Step
Take 10 minutes this week to pause and reflect on where your leadership is thriving and where it’s stretching thin.
Use my free Leadership Reflection & Readiness Tool to evaluate your 2026 readiness and create an intentional action plan.
- A Leadership Reflection Tool: “Are You Ready for 2026?” – It’s a quick self-assessment to help leaders identify where they’re strong and where they can grow next year.
10+ Burnout Busters – Affordable Strategies to Reignite Your Energy and Focus