How to Get Unstuck: Five Habits to Drop in 2026
You need a better system, not just new goals
Every January, teams tell themselves the same lie: This year will be different.
They make plans. They set goals. They say that things will finally change. But soon, they’re back where they started—trying hard but getting nowhere.
The problem isn’t your goals. It’s your habits.
You can’t get new results by doing the same old things. If you want different outcomes, you need to change your daily habits—the small things that either move your team forward or keep it stuck.
Here’s the good news: You don’t need to change everything at once. Start with these five habits, one at a time.
1. Stop Apologizing, Start Thanking
Apologizing has become a reflex in most teams. Late to a meeting? “Sorry.” You remind someone about a deadline? “Sorry.” Making someone wait? Another “Sorry.”
We do it without thinking. It seems polite. But here’s what’s really happening.
Saying “sorry” doesn’t fix the problem. Arriving 10 minutes late to a meeting isn’t minor; it…
