Freedom to Lead Forward

As the year draws to a close, many leaders are tired. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. The pace, the expectations, the constant need to be “on”.

This is where freedom matters.

Freedom is one of the core values of the Unique Leaders Network because leadership without freedom eventually becomes performance. And performance without purpose leads to burnout.

Freedom in leadership is not about doing whatever you want.

It is about choosing how you lead, what you carry, and what you release.

Last week I spent some time with my team planning for 2026 and one of the key questions was "what should we STOP doing?"  I'm not very good at letting go but I've learned it's the only way to move forward.

As we head toward 2026, this is the invitation.

1. Freedom starts with letting go

We often carry things far longer than we should. Old expectations. Roles we have outgrown. The pressure to be everything to everyone.

Freedom begins when you ask a hard question.

What am I still carrying that no longer serves who I am becoming as a leader?

This is not about quitting responsibility. It is about shedding weight that was never yours to begin with.

This year I've had to let go of a key role that got me to where I am today. It was hard! But I know I can't grow in my new role and carry the old one. I've had to let go.  My new role has deeper, wider responsibilities that deserve my full attention.

Action:

Write down three things you are ready to release before the end of this year.

2. Freedom requires clarity, not certainty

Many leaders delay decisions because they are waiting for certainty. But certainty is rare. Clarity is enough.

Freedom comes when you decide what matters most and allow everything else to align or fall away.

You do not need the full plan for 2026. 

You need a clear sense of direction.

That's a difficult lesson if you're like me and your diary is already booked out through December 10, 2026!  But I've learned the purpose is what matters.  For my work at Surveyors Australia and Industry Training Alliance our purpose is clear. So no matter what circumstances may come our way, decisions will be made through the purpose lens.  

The plan for 2026 is a guide, a direction, that is subject to change - a living document that needs to be adaptable given the environment in which we operate.  

Reflection:

What values will guide your leadership decisions next year, even when the path is unclear?

3. Freedom gives you permission to lead your way

One of the greatest traps in leadership is comparison. Watching how others lead and quietly reshaping yourself to fit what seems acceptable or successful.

Freedom breaks that pattern.

It allows you to lead with your voice, your pace, your convictions.

The world does not need another version of someone else.

It needs you, leading in a way that is honest and aligned.

Question:

If you gave yourself full permission, how would you lead differently in 2026?

Final Thought

As this year closes, freedom is not something to earn.

It is something to choose.

Choose what you carry forward.

Choose what you leave behind.

Choose to lead into 2026 with intention, courage, and space to breathe.

That is what it means to lead forward.