February has a way of removing illusion.

The holiday glow is gone, the ambitious January declarations have met the calendar, and the year is no longer theoretical, it’s operational. If January is where we set intentions, February is where those intentions meet email, meetings, and the quiet realization that “new year, new me” is mostly “same me, just more scheduled.”

This is when strategy becomes execution.

In our conversations right now, leaders aren’t struggling with vision as much as capacity. They’re being asked to modernize the business, integrate AI responsibly, increase efficiency, and improve experience, all while “doing more with less” (a phrase that continues to endure despite no one ever volunteering for it). Budgets, unsurprisingly, did not expand simply because the calendar flipped, and the list of “top priorities” shows little interest in becoming shorter.

What’s encouraging is the tone shift. The appetite for platitudes has largely disappeared, replaced by a desire for clarity and real prioritization. Leaders want to know what truly matters, and what can wait (ideally before the next steering committee meeting adds a few more “urgent” initiatives).

That’s where we do our best work.

IA has never been about chasing noise. We help make complexity navigable by refining ways of working, pressure-testing assumptions, and distinguishing theater from innovation that actually changes outcomes. It isn’t flashy work, but it is meaningful, and, at times, the good kind of exhausting.

Two decades into this journey, I’ve learned that momentum isn’t built in the celebratory moments. It’s built in steady execution, thoughtful decisions, and the occasional courageous “no.” The reward is rarely applause. More often, it’s progress…followed by another calendar invite.

I’m still sneaking in a run when I can, still asking too many questions, and still convinced that clarity is one of the greatest gifts we can offer leaders navigating uncertainty.

The year is underway. Let’s build it deliberately, and with just enough humor to maintain perspective.

Warm regards,

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THE LATEST

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In a world of dashboards and polished slide decks, it’s easy to assume more technology means better alignment. But some of the most effective program sessions start with something simpler: a blank whiteboard. This month, Sammye Walton explores how hands-on, real-time facilitation can spark sharper thinking, stronger engagement, and clearer ownership – whether your team is in person or hybrid.

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OF INTEREST

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an independent voice.

Because we believe our clients thrive when they have an agnostic guide to help them navigate the technology provider ecosystem, IA is fiercely independent. We derive no revenue from any solution provider (and we never will). Our aim is to foster long-term mutual collaboration and partnerships – for our clients and for providers.