January tends to bring a collective urge to purge. I don’t know about you, but the day after Christmas, I filled 5 outdoor trash bags with clothes, household items, linens, and anything else I could get my hands on to purge and donate.
- Closets get cleaned.
- Desks get organized.
- Inboxes get (briefly) tamed.
But there’s one place leaders rarely declutter — and it might cost them the most:
Their calendar.
Busy Doesn’t Mean Effective
Last spring, I delivered a 90-minute virtual workshop (I actually taught it 20 times for an entire organization) where one of the main challenges we discussed was focusing on the RIGHT activities, activities that drive results, and move away from tasks and activities that didn’t contribute to the overall objectives.
What we talked about is how many leaders spend their weeks bouncing from meeting to meeting — reacting instead of leading.
The problem isn’t commitment.
It’s congestion.
And in 2026, bold leaders are asking a new question:
“Does this meeting actually require live conversation?”
The Meeting Audit Every Leader Needs
Start by reviewing recurring meetings — especially weekly status updates.
Ask:
- Is information being shared or decisions being made?
- Could this be asynchronous?
- Who truly needs to attend?
If the answer is “information only,” it might not be a meeting.
When a Meeting Can Be an Update
Weekly status meetings are prime candidates for redesign.
Instead of gathering everyone live:
- Create a shared OneNote or Notebook LM space.
- Ask team members to update progress asynchronously.
- Leaders review, comment, and flag only what needs discussion.
The result?
- Fewer meetings
- Better documentation
- More thoughtful input
Declutter to Lead More Strategically
When leaders reclaim calendar space, they gain:
- Time to think.
- Time to coach.
- Time to actually lead.
Decluttering isn’t about doing less.
It’s about doing what matters.
A Leadership Reset for 2026
January is an invitation.
- To let go of what no longer serves.
- To design systems that support focus.
- To lead with intention instead of reaction.
Your calendar is a leadership tool.
Use it wisely.