New Year, Same Calling: 4 Ways to Become an Impactful Leader This Year

You are a leader. You have leadership in you. But is your leadership making a profound impact in the ways that you want it to? Here are four tips on how to become an impactful leader as you step into the new year. 

Do things consistently that other people do occasionally. 

Being a great leader isn’t about doing flashy things, like speaking on the biggest platforms. Often, the mark of a great leader is their consistency in the small things.

So ask yourself: What disciplines do you have? What are areas in your life where you can grow more disciplined? 

Maybe you want to be more disciplined in your quiet time with God, or perhaps you want to greet your team members with love consistently. Whatever you want to work on, your consistency matters, and the small decisions that you make today will form you into the person that you want to be tomorrow. 

Watch this episode from the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast to learn more about how consistency can grow the impact you have as a leader:

Are you just steering the ship, or are you navigating it?

Impactful leaders think ahead and anticipate potential obstacles. Many people can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. In his book 21 Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell discusses the concept of navigation and the story of two expeditions to the South Pole in 1911: one led by Roald Amundsen, who meticulously planned every detail, and the other by Robert F. Scott, who failed to do so. Amundsen’s team succeeded; Scott’s tragically did not.

So which are you? The one who can steer the ship? Or the one who can chart the course? 

As leaders, it’s beneficial to know how to plan and anticipate not only the good things but also the obstacles you may face. It is the anticipatory leadership that separates the people who steer the ship from those who chart the course. When you learn how to chart the course, you will be a better leader. Not only will you accomplish your goal, but others around you will be better as well. 

What tangible habits can you implement to be better at thinking ahead? How can you set your team up for success in challenging seasons? We recommend this article, 3 Keys To Anticipating Leadership Challenges Before They Strike, to learn more about how to start anticipating leadership challenges.

Create a caring culture.

As the saying goes, “People will not care about what you know until they know that you care.” This simple truth has the power to transform not only performance, but also the hearts of those you lead.

When leaders show authentic concern for their team’s well-being, it creates a ripple effect. Genuine care fosters trust, builds stronger relationships, and cultivates a culture where people feel valued. This isn’t just about boosting productivity—it’s about touching the hearts of the people around you. 

You never know what God can do through you by simply caring for someone else. Leadership becomes a vessel for purpose when it’s rooted in compassion. 

How are you caring for the people around you? What would those closest to you say about your leadership? Would they describe you as someone who truly cares about their well-being, or someone focused solely on what they can offer you?

These are tough questions, but answering them honestly can lead to profound growth. And when embraced fully, it amplifies your influence and leaves a lasting legacy.

Remember your why.

Your “why” is a huge part of why you are where you are today. 

Oftentimes, in the midst of trying to grow our leadership and be the best leaders, we tend to forget “why” we’re even here in the first place. If you’re a pastor, what’s your “why” for wanting to lead your attenders to know Jesus? Why do you want to lead your team to be the best leaders they can be? What drives you to do that? 

As you’re reading this, take some time to reflect on where you are. 

What’s your “why”? What passions, gifts, and strengths has God given you, and how do you believe He is leading you to use those giftings in your life?

These are all questions that can help you remember your “why”, allow it to drive you, and have an impact as a leader. 

Which area do you need to work on the most? Remember, if you feel alone, you are not. We are all in this together! If you want more resources on growing your leadership, click this link to access all of the leadership resources that are on the Open Network website!