As the year draws to a close, the most important work of an agency leader isn’t found in spreadsheets or forecasts — it’s in reflection. Not just on what you’ve achieved, but on how you’ve led.
Leadership at year-end is about resilience — the ability to adapt, refocus, and move forward with clarity and conviction no matter what the market delivers. Resilient leaders don’t simply react to change; they anticipate it, learn from it, and turn uncertainty into opportunity.
So, as you prepare to guide your agency into 2026, here are three strategies that can help you lead with resilience and purpose:
- Reconnect with Your Purpose.
Every agency has a “why” — a deeper reason for being that goes beyond policies and premiums. This is where true leadership begins. Take time to revisit what makes your agency indispensable to clients. What unique value do you bring to their business, their people, their future? When your team reconnects to that purpose, resilience follows naturally. Purpose creates energy — the kind that sustains momentum even through the most unpredictable environments. - Build an I³ Mindset.
Resilient agencies use the I³ System — identifying Issues, understanding Implications, and creating Interventions. This approach allows leaders to see risk through a broader lens, transforming challenges into opportunities for innovation and trust-building. When your team learns to think this way, every obstacle becomes a chance to demonstrate insight and leadership. It’s not about avoiding risk — it’s about mastering it through strategy, empathy, and foresight. - Invest in People, Not Just Process.
The most successful agencies entering 2026 will be those whose leaders invest in developing trusted risk advisors — not order-takers or policy pushers. That means mentoring, empowering, and listening. It means encouraging continuous learning and celebrating curiosity. Resilient leadership is contagious. When your people see you leading with courage and composure, they rise to meet you there.
Resilience isn’t a slogan. It’s a practice. It’s built one decision, one conversation, one act of integrity at a time.
As you guide your agency into 2026, remember: growth begins where comfort ends. Reflect deeply, plan strategically, and lead boldly. The agencies that will thrive in the year ahead are those that not only endure change — they use it to become stronger, smarter, and more united than ever.