Three Big Takeaways From 2024

At the start of the new year, a colleague asked me a thought-provoking question: What were your three biggest takeaways from working with leaders and teams in 2024? It sparked deep reflection and led to some powerful insights. Here’s where I landed:

• Being promoted to a management role based on strong individual performance doesn’t guarantee success as a leader.

• Communication is at the heart of all relationship-building and connection—including the way we communicate with ourselves.

• Our thought patterns shape everything we do, ultimately creating our reality.

Being Great at Your Job Doesn’t Automatically Make You a Great Leader

Many organizations still promote people into leadership roles based on past performance rather than leadership potential. The result? Talented individual contributors suddenly find themselves in leadership positions without the skills, mindset, or support needed to lead effectively.

This past year, I saw firsthand how this transition can either be a catalyst for growth or a source of frustration—both for the new leader and their team. Leadership isn’t just about delivering results; it’s about inspiring, coaching, and creating an environment where others can thrive. The best leaders I worked with in 2024 were those who embraced learning, sought feedback, and recognized that leadership is a skill to be developed, not a title to be claimed.

Reflection: If you’re stepping into leadership, ask yourself: Am I prioritizing people as much as performance?

Communication Is the Heart of Leadership—Including How We Talk to Ourselves

If there’s one skill that can make or break a leader, it’s communication. This year reinforced for me that communication isn’t just about delivering a message—it’s about listening, adapting, and fostering trust. Whether it was a CEO struggling to engage their team, a manager navigating tough conversations, or a leader working on executive presence, communication was always at the core of the challenge.

But how we communicate with others doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it starts with how we communicate with ourselves. The way leaders think, reflect, and self-regulate directly impacts their ability to communicate effectively. I saw leaders who shifted their inner dialogue from self-doubt to self-trust become more confident and composed. Those who learned to challenge their own assumptions became better listeners and decision-makers.

Note: This had such a profound impact that I crafted a keynote speech centered on the concept that once we identify the thoughts that are holding us back, we can change them and improve confidence, performance, and quality of life (click here if you’d like to learn more).

Reflection: Consider how you’re communicating, both externally and internally. What story are you telling yourself, and how does it shape your leadership?

Thought Patterns Shape Reality—For Leaders and Their Teams

One of the most powerful realizations I saw leaders have this year was just how much their thought patterns influence their actions—and the culture of their teams. Leaders who operated from a place of scarcity or fear made decisions that reinforced those beliefs. Those who led with a mindset of possibility, trust, and adaptability cultivated teams that reflected those qualities back.

Neuroscience tells us that our brains seek confirmation for what we already believe. That means leaders who assume people can’t handle change will see resistance everywhere. Leaders who believe in their team’s capability will find ways to nurture and develop it. The leaders who made the biggest impact this year were the ones willing to examine and rewire their own thought patterns before expecting change from others.

Reflection: What are the dominant thought patterns shaping your leadership—and how are they influencing the people around you?

Final Thoughts

2024 reinforced what I’ve always believed: leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about asking better questions—of yourself, your team, and the way you lead. Growth happens when we challenge old assumptions, refine our communication, and consciously shape the way we think.

So, as we press on into the new year, I leave you with this: What leadership lesson did 2024 teach you?

Would love to hear your thoughts, and please feel free to share this with someone who may benefit.