Angela E. Batista, Ed.D.

The first month of the year often arrives with a familiar mix of optimism and pressure. We feel the cultural pull to set goals, reorganize our calendars, and reinvent ourselves overnight. But for many leaders, especially those carrying heavy responsibilities from the prior year, the new year can also stir a quieter truth: we cannot step into what’s next if we haven’t released what’s behind us. A few Januaries ago, I remember standing in my office one morning, surrounded by the previous year’s...

When we don’t live and lead intentionally and from our purpose, we begin with a list of essential tasks instead of a picture of our desired goals. We often move through emails, meetings, projects, and deadlines without pausing to ask whether these activities are moving us closer to our life goals. The same method of intentional design thinking, which transforms organizations through value identification and strength mapping, and new work process prototyping, can guide our personal life...

As the end of the year approaches, our schedules become overloaded, and our minds quickly shift toward future goals. Fundamental transformation often emerges during the quiet moments following our daily routines. Strategic breaks can serve as more periods of mere rest and help you evaluate your strengths and realign your energy before new challenges begin. This post incorporates tested methods to discover and maximize your fundamental abilities by presenting a five-step approach that...