As you look ahead to 2025, setting your team up for success starts with intentional leadership. Engaged employees drive results, but engagement doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through clarity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Here are four key ways to strengthen your leadership approach and empower your team for the year ahead.
1) Start by reviewing your company’s values and code of conduct. Reinforcing what matters most not only aligns your team with the company’s mission but also helps individuals see how their work contributes to the bigger picture.
2) Next, invest in training leaders on active listening. When leaders truly hear their teams, they can identify challenges early, support their staff effectively, and prevent project delays caused by miscommunication.
3) Collaboration is another key driver of engagement. Encourage cross-functional teamwork and allow employees to co-create their own goals—this fosters ownership and accountability.
4) Lastly, regularly review and prioritize goals. Revisit your goals often to check if any realignment is required. Using a structured approach like the Eisenhower Matrix ensures that everyone is working on what matters most, keeping the team aligned and focused.
By committing to these strategies, you’ll create a more engaged, motivated workforce ready to excel in 2025.
Pause on Border Tariffs
You don’t need to be into politics to realize the impact of recent news. The U.S. government agreed on Monday, February 3, 2025, not to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico for another month. The executive orders say the levies are in response to illegal immigration and drug smuggling across the border. The claim is that Mexican cartels are operating in Canada and claims the modest amount of fentanyl intercepted at the northern border would be enough to kill almost 10 million Americans. Canada signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and backed it with funding. Retaliation plans are off the table for now, and the tariffs are halted for now, which is good news for everyone.
The Key to Lasting and Strong Leadership
At Soaring Leadership, we equip manufacturing leaders with the skills they need to excel. But learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. No matter how valuable a leadership lesson may be, real growth only happens when leaders take action—repeating new behaviors until they become second nature. Without consistent practice, even the best insights fade, leaving leadership habits unchanged.
Just like mastering a machine on the shop floor, leadership skills require hands-on repetition. Trying a new approach once won’t create lasting results, but applying it daily builds confidence and competence. It takes patience and persistence, but over time, those small efforts add up. The leaders who commit to practicing what they learn are the ones who see real transformation—not just for themselves, but for their teams and organizations.
Ready to unlock your full potential? Practice these key practices daily and see your leadership soar!