My New Year Resolutions 2026 (workplace edition)

Continuing from my post previous post, here are my 5 New Year Resolution's for 2026:

1. I will escalate an issue promptly: often, I see various emails floating around with "Reminder-1, Reminder-2......Reminder 30" with no end. Instead of having your team members engage in such non-value added activities, it's often best to sometimes just pick up the phone and call the person (or WhatsApp) and then send an email documenting the conversation along with clear next steps. (Pro-tip: If a phone call doesn't work and you must escalate to the next hierarchy, remember that simply CC’ing a senior is not an escalation. The email must be addressed directly to them to signal a formal request for intervention)
2. I will block calendar's immediately: A common trend I observe is the delay in sending meeting invites because a team member is "still preparing the materials." In the time it takes to perfect a slide deck, the calendars of your intended invitees will fill up, pushing a meeting that could have happened in 10 days out to 30 days or more. (Pro-tip: sometimes, it's also OK to block someones time as "tentative" rather than waiting for the last minute)
3. I will not cancel a meeting on the day of: I will avoid cancelling a meeting on the day it's scheduled to take place. If you are unprepared and unable to conduct the meeting as planned, it's always best to reschedule the meeting at least 2 days in advance, thus freeing up the invitees calendar and giving the opportunity to other team members and stakeholders to block yours and each other's time
4. I will keep my workplace quiet: Deep work requires a sanctuary of focus. I resolve to be mindful of the "noise pollution" I create. This means no speakerphones in open areas, no shouting across the room to get a colleague's attention, and keeping my voice at a professional level. If I need a team member across the room, I will use our internal chat or walk over to them
5. I will not CC without reason: Each CC takes on average ~3 minutes to read, and even if someone gets 20 unnecessary emails/day, that’s about 60 minutes or 12.5% of your time wasted ( Pro tip: try using company approved chat groups like Slack or Google Chat for certain topics rather than starting a new email chain when possible) [ this was mentioned in the previous list as well, but given it's importance, it finds place for an honorary mention again in this years list]

Each of the above best practice not makes you productive, but has a strong network affect on your colleagues, teams and entire organisations. It is this shared commitment to excellence that will help us all Shoot to the Top in 2026 and beyond.

Wishing you a healthy, successful and productive New Year!