I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions.

It’s not that I haven’t set them. I’ve done the usual routine … I set a goal, I stick to it for a few days or weeks, and then life gets in the way. I “break” the resolution, and suddenly I’m left with that nagging feeling that I’ve failed before the year has even truly begun.

But as the calendar turns, I still find myself in a season of deep reflection and retrospection. I’ve just realized that for me, the power isn’t in a resolution. It’s in an intention.

There is a fundamental difference between the two.

Resolutions are about the “what.” They are rigid. They are a contract you sign with yourself. But resolutions don’t account for the “human” parts of our lives … the late-night board meetings, the sick kids, or the sheer exhaustion of a recruitment cycle. When the resolution breaks, we feel like we are broken.

Intentions are about the “Why.” An intention is a compass, not a contract.

Here is how I’m looking at it this year, both personally and professionally:

The Personal Intention

The Resolution: “I will go for a hike three times a week.”

The Intention: “I intend to be more present with nature.”

The Difference: If it’s pouring rain or I have a day of back-to-back-to-back meetings, I might miss my hike. But I can still be present with nature. I can look out the window, take a deep breath, and notice the change in the leaves, or the bird on the feeder. The intention doesn’t “break” just because the circumstances changed.

The Professional Intention

The Resolution: “I will visit a classroom twice a week, every week.”

The Intention: “I intend to be more connected to the student experience.”

The Difference: If a crisis hits and I don’t make it into a classroom for 10 days, a resolution says I failed. But an intention reminds me that “connection” can happen in the hallway, in the dining hall, or even by stopping to admire a piece of student artwork. I haven’t failed … I’ve just found a different way to stay true to my compass.

Leading with Intention in the New year

As a society, we are conditioned to set resolutions. And schools are no different. We call them “Key Performance Indicators” or “Strategic Goals.” I’m not saying those metrics don’t matter, because they do. But if we lead only by resolution, we become rigid and reactive. We stop being intentional with our time and start being tethered to a checklist.

What if, alongside those targets, you set an intention for your leadership this year?

The Resolution: “I will meet with every direct report at least every other week.” 

The Intention: “I intend to remove obstacles for my team.” 

The Difference: The resolution is a calendar invite. The intention is a mindset. If a crisis hits or a donor visits and you have to cancel your 1-on-1s, the resolution says you are an unreliable manager. But the purpose of that meeting wasn’t just to hear a status update —  it was to remove obstacles for your colleagues. Even if you can’t meet, you can still send a two-sentence email or text asking, “Is there anything you’re stuck on? How can I help?” You may have missed the meeting, but you honored the intention. You are still showing up for your team members.

Room for Reality

The beauty of an intention is that it doesn’t break; it recalibrates.

When you have a week where you didn’t check a single thing off your “resolution” list, your intention is still there. You can still be present. You can still remove obstacles.

As you look at the clean slate of the year ahead, don’t put yourself in the “resolution” box. Give yourself the grace to lead with intention instead. It’s a much more sustainable way to move not only toward your school’s mission, but your personal one too.