The Clarity Comeback: Cutting Through the 2026 Noise

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Hey Spark Family,

It’s the first week of 2026, and if your calendar already feels too full - you’re not alone.

The new year brings new priorities, shifting strategies, and endless noise about what leaders “should” be doing. But the best leaders I’m coaching right now aren’t adding more. They’re doing the opposite.

They’re cutting through the noise.
They’re choosing clarity over chaos.

Because clarity doesn’t just calm your mind - it sharpens your impact.

The Research Is Clear

Gallup’s most recent global workplace data show that only 32% of employees are engaged at work - and this number has barely moved in years. What drives the difference between teams that thrive and teams that stall? Leadership.

A leader’s behavior accounts for 70% of the variance in team engagement - meaning clarity, communication, and direction from leaders are the greatest predictors of performance and retention.
​(Source: Gallup, 2025 State of the Global Workplace & Employee Engagement Report)

At the same time, 57% of employees say unclear communication from leaders adds to their stress and frustration, according to recent Harvard Business Review research. When expectations are vague, people fill in the gaps with assumptions - and that confusion erodes trust and focus.
​(Source: Harvard Business Review, 2024 “Why Clarity Is a Leadership Superpower”)

The data reinforces what I see every day:
When leaders communicate priorities clearly, alignment follows.
When they don’t, distraction and disengagement take over.

What I'm Seeing In The Field

Leaders are moving fast, but not always forward.

Many are trying to do everything instead of the essential things. Their calendars look like a sprint, but their progress feels like a loop.

Clarity is what breaks that cycle. It gives your team permission to focus. It replaces over-explaining with direction. It rebuilds confidence where overwhelm has taken hold.

I’ve seen this time and again: the most effective leaders aren’t the busiest. They’re the clearest.

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What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance

Inside Spark Brilliance, we help leaders build what I call a Clarity Operating System - simple rhythms that keep teams aligned and focused, even when things get noisy.

That means:
🔹 Defining “what success looks like” for every project before it starts.
🔹 Setting clear decision rights - who owns what and by when.
🔹 Protecting time for reflection and recalibration each week.

Clarity doesn’t slow you down. It makes every minute count.

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🌟 Your Challenge This Week

Take 15 minutes to do a Clarity Audit - for yourself and your team:

1. Open your calendar for this week.
2. Highlight the meetings or tasks that directly support your top three priorities.
3. Delete, delegate, or defer the rest.
4. Check for clarity gaps with your team.​
   ➡ Ask: “Is everyone clear on what success looks like this week?” If not, take five minutes to align on priorities and expectations.

Start your year with less noise, more focus, and stronger alignment. The difference will be immediate.

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With gratitude,
​Jackie

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P.S. – I’d love to hear your focus for the year.
What’s one thing you’re simplifying or saying no to in 2026?
Hit reply and share it with me - I’ll be reading every one. ✨

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