Your 2026 Kickoff Checklist: Fresh Moves for a Focused Start

You already cleaned house at the end of 2025—reviewed your Rocks, refreshed your Scorecard, and realigned your Accountability Chart. Now what?

It’s almost January, and that means it’s time to execute. The runway is clear—now it’s all about takeoff. Here's your Kickoff Checklist to turn all that prep into real traction this quarter.

✅️ 1. Lock in Your Annual Planning Session (If You Haven’t Already)

Annual Planning is where your strategy meets your calendar. Whether you're DIY-ing or calling in a facilitator (hey 👋🏻), get your session booked before the quarter flies by.

Bonus: Pre-schedule all 2026 Quarterlies now to protect the time before your calendar fills up with "urgent" distractions.

✅️ 2. Launch or Level-Up Your Same Page Meetings

You’ve blocked the time. Now make sure you’re using it right:

• Start with a recap of your V/TO

• Prioritize open dialogue over updates

• Use the IDS® tool to work through issues

These meetings are your alignment engine—keep them consistent and intentional.

 ✅️ 3. Set and Share Your 2026 Generosity Goal 

Business isn’t just about revenue—it’s about impact. Start the year by deciding:

• How much you’ll give (time, money, services)

• Where you’ll give (causes, community, industry)

• Who’s involved (individual or team-led initiatives)

  
  

Why it matters:

• Boosts team morale and retention

• Reinforces your core values

• Builds your brand in a meaningful way

  
  

Tie generosity into your EOS® goals to keep it visible and intentional all year.

✅️ 4. Refresh Visibility Into Your KPIs

Even if you updated your Scorecard in December, now is the time to:

• Walk your team through the why behind each metric

• Check for reporting gaps or confusion

• Make it fun and let the team give the measurables fun names.

• Ensure dashboards are actually being used—weekly!

You’ve set the Scorecard. Now make it part of your company’s weekly rhythm.

✅️ 5. Recommit to Core Processes

Here’s a quick new-year pulse check:

• Are your processes being followed by all?

• Is there a single source of truth (aka, documented + accessible)?

• Are new hires onboarded into these processes?

  
  

Consider using a platform like Playbook Builder or Trainual to standardize and share them company-wide.

 ✅️ 6. Plug Culture Into Your Weekly Pulse

Kickoff isn’t just about logistics—it’s about leadership energy. Use January to:

• Revisit Core Values with your team

• Call out and celebrate values-driven wins

• Bake values into your weekly L10s or huddles

Culture isn't a side project—it's how things get done.

 ✅️ 7. Check Your Meeting Cadence

Now that your planning sessions are booked, review the rest:

• Are you holding weekly L10s for each team?

• Do you have clear agendas for each type of meeting?

• Is meeting time being used to solve issues, not report status?

  
  

Pro tip: Audit one meeting this month to model how an ideal session should feel—productive, focused, and values-aligned.

💡 Make January Count—So Q1 Doesn’t Catch You Slippin’!

Your end-of-year prep was about reflection and realignment. January is about activation.

Don’t let those plans sit on a shelf. Use this checklist to roll into Q1 with clarity, confidence, and that “we’ve got this” energy.

Need a thought partner to guide your team through the first big moves of the year?Let’s connect:  https://www.cbltm.com/contact

Here’s to a Happy and Prosperous 2026!