2024 is here! This is exciting, because a new year is one of the best opportunities to trigger the fresh start effect.

According to behavioural change expert Katy Milkman, people feel like a different person when the calendar clicks over. They become distanced from past failures and optimistic about the future.

So, let's get your fresh start off to a good start. We've gathered great advice from global thought leaders on our upcoming events program and past events to create 10 New Year's Resolutions for Leaders.

1 . Be a Level 5 Leader - the type that takes a company from good to great. Briefly, Level 5 leaders blend intense professional will with personal humility, letting the team and organisation take any credit for successes. They also make decisions for the long-term success of the company. Learn more about Level 5 leadership at our Good to Great® Immersion Workshop with Jim Collins in Chicago, U.S., in October 2024.

2. Become a Giver - Wharton professor Adam Grant's research shows that givers succeed over the long run by contributing to others and the culture. Build goodwill through generosity with knowledge, contacts, and feedback.

3. Listen Like a Hostage Negotiator - Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator, used tactical empathy to resolve crisis situations. Hone your listening skills by getting curious about different perspectives and suspending judgement. Hear people out before reacting. These are good ways to build trust in any relationship.

Encourage a Learning Culture - Professor Amy Edmondson's psychological safety framework creates an environment where people feel safe to take risks and speak up. Invite input, discuss failures without blame, and reward team learning.

Build Trust - Executive coaches Frances Frei and Anne Morriss said in HBR's "Begin with Trust" article that trust has 3 core drivers: People tend to trust you when they believe they are interacting with the real you ( authenticity), when they have faith in your judgment and competence ( logic), and when they feel that you care about them (empathy).

6. Coach Don't Tell - Author Michael Bungay Stanier advises leaders to ask questions over providing solutions. Coach your direct reports to think for themselves. Move from obvious advice to insightful inquiry.

7. Develop Your People - Former tech executive Kevin Lawrence shares that leaders focus on progress not perfection. Provide opportunities for people to stretch their capabilities and support their development.

8. Role Model Resilience - Drawing on her experience as a hostage survivor, lawyer, and author Rabia Siddique says the foundation of resilience is controlling how we choose to respond to situations. She stresses the importance of strengthening your connections, noticing the stories you tell yourself, accepting change is part of life, and looking for opportunities for self-discovery.

9. Use Principles of Persuasion - Communications expert and author Steve Martin advises using storytelling and emotional connection to influence others. Inspire people by linking goals to shared values and purpose.

10. Commit to Self-Care - You can't pour from an empty cup. Carve out time for health and renewal activities so you have energy to focus on higher level leadership priorities that help move the organisation forward.

This new year, try out a few of these research-backed habits to enrich your leadership and make an even greater impact. Wishing you a happy and prosperous year ahead!

They say that when organisations are moving fast, there's rarely enough time and space for informal training and support, particularly for managers.

Our immersive live virtual learning program with Growth Faculty membership is one option to consider when researching how best to develop leaders.

Growth Faculty recently launched a good value Enterprise plan for larger companies to develop leadership skills in teams of 20 or more employees.

For higher level leaders, including CEOs, there is an in-person Good to Great® Immersion Workshop with Jim Collins in Chicago, U.S., in October 2024. This is exclusively for executive teams and numbers are limited.