Image Credit: Astrodienst

OK, I’m not a horoscope person. Sometimes I want to be. Who wouldn’t want a crystal ball that explains everything from the weather to my moods to whether or not that launch is going to go off without a hitch or if we can just blame it on Mercury in retrograde?

Today, I opened mine [I’m a Cancer, a globetrotting homebody with infinite curiosity apparently] as that new year curiosity got the better of me. 

“The month of January speaks of consolidation and new beginnings. After a somewhat foggy and sensitive start to the year, strong creative impulses promise fruitful results. [My goal setting is arriving in little sparks this year – not a bold single word or laser- focused mission statement like past years]. 

The New Moon in Capricorn on 18 January invites you to keep the new and the tried- and-tested in balance. From 20 January, future projects, networking and reforms take center stage. [Is this every Innovation Leader’s team meeting agenda right now?] 

Neptune’s ingress into Aries on 26 January opens a longer chapter in which visions need to become tangible. [And the yearlong planning for 2026…] 

This month, determination, transparent motives and a willingness to release old patterns create the best conditions for the new to become sustainable.” [Amen.] 

How many of us will be rolling out new AI initiatives this year? How many of us can expect a flood of emotions with our teams that go with them? 

That last line is a clarion call for each of us this year. With so much optimism, promise and fear surrounding AI, it’s time to anchor the stories we’ll be telling in the values that our organizations need to move into the future. 

  • Untangle and leave behind old patterns 
  • Balance the proven models with the new ones 
  • Engage deeply in MVPs, future projects. Network across silos to get buy-in and alignment. Remember compliance and governance aren’t just reforms; they’re guardrails 
  • Carry the January visions – their promise, excitement and possibility all year long. 

Innovators, we have so many opportunities to tell great stories about our work this year. And even more chances to listen deeply to the people they will affect. 

We might just take a lesson from the stars –let’s inspire our people to share stories about our determination, offer genuine transparency, and create a real willingness to get onboard to a brighter future.