We are deep into Q1. The “fresh start” energy of January has faded, replaced by the familiar friction of execution. But for much of the world, the year has only just begun. We have entered the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, speed and forward momentum, and after the contemplative Year of the Snake, the collective desire to move is palpable.
For Darden alumni, “speed” is a comfortable gear. The natural instinct is to look at the scoreboard of 2026 and ask: “Where can I make a big impact in a meaningful way?” But facing an increasingly volatile global market, it may be worth challenging that instinct. Instead of asking how to increase your output (Horizontal Development), consider how to expand your internal capacity (Vertical Development).
Think of it this way: Horizontal Development is adding new apps to your phone. Vertical Development is upgrading the entire operating system, enabling you to handle greater complexity, uncertainty and pressure with ease. In short, it is time to up your Inner Game.
The Inner Condition of the Leader
In the senior leadership space, the majority of issues are human issues. Spreadsheets follow linear logic; human beings introduce emotion, volatility and unpredictability. This drives a sentiment frequently heard from alumni years after graduation: “The only classes that really matter now are the OB or LO classes I took.”
Bill O’Brien, the former CEO of Hanover Insurance, captured it precisely: “The success of an intervention depends on the inner condition of the intervener.”
Consider every interaction you lead as an intervention — every meeting, decision and difficult conversation. The question becomes: How is your inner condition? How are you ensuring it is clean, prepared and invested in?
In the Year of the Horse, the danger is not that you will fail to run fast enough. The danger is that you will run efficiently in the wrong direction or burn out before the finish line because your inner condition was not ready for the race.
Three strategic inquiries to upgrade your internal operating system:
- Strategic Subtraction
“What is one legacy belief I am carrying that is now creating drag on my performance?”
In business school, the focus is heavily on acquisition: skills, networks, frameworks. But at the executive level, growth often requires subtraction. You may still be operating on beliefs like, “My value is based on my ability to generate maximum output” or “Move fast, break things.” These beliefs may have fueled early success, but they become liabilities for the senior leader. What is the one assumption that, if you deleted it from your mental stack, would instantly increase your agility?
- The Pivot
“What ‘winning strategy’ from 2025 has become a bottleneck for 2026?”
Marshall Goldsmith famously noted, “What got you here won’t get you there.” The Year of the Horse demands movement, and you cannot gallop if you are weighed down by outdated armor. Perhaps the habit of being the “Chief Problem Solver” made you indispensable in 2025 but is now preventing your direct reports from developing their own resilience. Identify the behavior that served you well but is now shrinking your impact.
- Executive Presence
“What is one recurring high stakes storm I intend to navigate with absolute grounding this year?”
Look at your calendar. You know where the pressure points are: the hostile board meeting, the restructuring conversation, the inevitable market correction. High achievers often try to solve stress. Instead, prepare for it. Set an intention for your state of mind. Ask: How does the outcome change if I enter that situation with total calm? Visualizing yourself navigating your biggest triggers with a regulated nervous system is a competitive advantage that goes beyond IQ.
The Year of Depth, Not Just Speed
Sustainable results are a byproduct of internal depth and the ability to self-regulate. As the noise of the year ramps up, let your KPIs guide your execution, but let these questions guide your evolution. The goal is not just to run faster this year. It is to run with greater clarity, presence and capacity.
If you would like to schedule an executive coaching session to explore your vertical capacity, please email AlumniCareerServices@darden.virginia.edu.
