Episode 4

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Published on:

5th Jan 2026

Ditch the KPIs: Why Your Team Needs a "Theme" for 2026

Numbers don’t drive behavior. Narratives do. Here is how to set a "Team Resolution" that actually sticks.

Your team doesn't need more KPIs. They need a New Year's Resolution.

We are great at giving our teams "performance indicators" - increase sales by 10%, cut costs by 5%. But while these numbers measure results, they rarely drive behavior.

If you want to shift the Culture and Identity of your team in 2026, you need to give them a "Theme."

In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of "Temporal Landmarks" - why the brain naturally looks for a fresh start in January - and how you can leverage this to create a "Team Resolution" that rallies everyone around a shared identity.

In this episode, you will learn:

  1. The "Fresh Start" Effect: Why the brain is hardwired to separate the "Old Team" (2025) from the "New Team" (2026) and how to use this to wipe the slate clean 1.
  2. Macro vs. Micro Resolutions: How to set a "North Star" theme for the entire department (e.g., "The Year of Strategy") and bespoke themes for each direct report2222.
  3. The "Ownership" Tactic: Why you should announce the Theme, but let your team define the Implementation (and how this skyrockets engagement) 3.
  4. The "Right Hand" Conversation: A script for sitting down with your deputy in January and framing their development as an "Identity Upgrade" rather than a performance correction 4.

💪 The Challenge for This Week:

Before your first team meeting of the year:

-Set the Macro Theme: What is the one shift your team must make in 2026? (e.g., "From Firefighters to Architects").

-Set the Micro Themes: Look at your direct reports. What is the one identity shift they need? (e.g., "From Doer to Coach").

-The Launch: Announce the theme and ask them to build the roadmap.

Resources:

-Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook

-Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC

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About the Podcast

Leadership Mindset 2.0
Transform From Tactical Doer to Strategic Leader: The Psychology of Scaling for Executives & Entrepreneurs
Leadership Mindset 2.0 is the definitive playbook for executives and entrepreneurs ready to break free from the "Doer Trap" and scale their business using psychology and strategy.

Host R. Michael Anderson has scaled multiple software companies to the Inc. 5000 list and was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Now, as a 2x Executive Coach of the Year, he uses that experience to help high-performers transform from Tactical Operators into Strategic Leaders.

In this podcast, Michael blends cutting-edge neuroscience, emotional intelligence (EQ), and battle-tested business strategy to help you overcome burnout, imposter syndrome, and the "Leadership Incompetence Trap" so you can lead with clarity and confidence.

Two New Episodes Every Week which include a mix of:
• Strategy: Neuroscience frameworks & leadership tactics to start your week.
• Mentorship: Live Q&A and specific answers to your leadership challenges.
• Coaching: A fly-on-the-wall look at real, unscripted executive coaching sessions as Michael helps leaders break through their blind spots live.
• Masterclasses: Listen in as Michael and guests teach valuable leadership and management skills to a real-life audience.

Topics include: The Psychology of Scaling, Burnout Prevention, Strategic Planning, Executive Coaching, and Emotional Intelligence.

About your host

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R. Michael Anderson

R. Michael Anderson, MBA, MA has a striking combination that creates truly impactful transformation in leaders – he has the real-life business success of founding, scaling and exiting three software companies, plus the educational background of a Masters Degree in Psychology.



This combination gives him the unique ability to connect to other leaders as a peer, then teaches evidence-based leadership skills that genuinely drive behaviour and performance.