Set your priorities.
Mary Olson-Menzel is the founder and CEO of MVP Executive Development and co-founder of Spark Insight Coaching. Michelle Powers is a fractional chief of staff.
The beginning of a new year is one of the few moments when the organization is collectively more open to a reset. Priorities are being shaped, and leaders are asking themselves: How do we do it better and smarter this year?
For communications leaders, this is another leadership moment. Starting the year strong is about stepping into your role as a strategic partner, trusted adviser and CEO whisperer. When you do that early in the year, you shape how your function is perceived for the rest of the year.
Think like the CEO
One of the most powerful mindset shifts for communications leaders is to see your function as a business within the business, not a service desk wading through tasks and taking orders. Questions about \ your work that you will want to be able to answer include:
- Who are you?
- What do you do beyond execution?
- What are your capabilities and superpowers?
- How does your team create value for the organization right now?
Comms as the proactive strategic partner
Budgets are tightening, teams remain lean and even the most agile leaders are being asked to do more. This creates both pressure and a tremendous opportunity for the communications team. Strong starts happen when comms leaders:
- Get ahead of requests instead of waiting for them
- Partner early and often with HR, operations and other teams where alignment is crucial
- Frame communications as a force multiplier, not a downstream task
Take your talents on the road
One of the most effective ways to start the year strong is to go on a communications roadshow: meeting with key stakeholders to clarify alignment, surface challenges and co-design shared outcomes. No compass or gas station rest stops needed. The most effective comms leaders walk into these conversations knowing:
- What they want to accomplish
- What they want others to say or do when they leave the room
- How communications can make existing challenges more strategic and aligned
- How to invite feedback with confidence: What are we missing that matters?
Leverage tools, including AI, to unlock creativity, not replace it
The strongest comms leaders strategically add new tools to their toolbelt as often as possible. When used thoughtfully, your toolbelt can help drive:
- Thought partnership
- Market researcher
- Feedback for brainstorming and positioning practice
This then frees you up to focus on judgment, creativity, storytelling and connection.
Key questions for a brilliant start to 2026
As you move into the year, ask yourself:
- How do I want communications to be viewed and experienced this year?
- Where can we add value earlier in the decision-making process?
- What relationships do I need to deepen to be most effective?
- How can I position my team as confident, consistent strategic partners?
- What would it look like to lead with communications strengths?
Crafting the narrative for a strong start to the year begins with a strategic mindset, proactive effort, your own roadshow and your capacity to find and use tools that enhance your output. The fresh start is also your opportunity to show up with clarity, intention and confidence in the role communications plays in organizational success. As leaders in comms, you control the narrative.
Now, go out there and make this chapter your own.
The post New year, new narrative: A comms leader’s guide to starting strong in 2026 appeared first on PR Daily.
