THE HIDDEN SKILLS EVERY LEADER NEEDS IN 2026
Why the leaders who win next year won’t be the loudest or the fastest, but the ones who see clearly and act with intention.
Most leaders don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because they get tangled in noise.
The world is dialed up to “constant alert mode”: nonstop news, market swings, rate speculation, AI breakthroughs every other Tuesday, and enough notifications to make your Apple Watch think you’re training for a triathlon.
But here’s the hard truth I relearned this year:
Distraction is the enemy of great leadership.
And discernment is its antidote.
Discernment is the ability to understand what actually matters and act on it with conviction. It’s the muscle that lets you separate the urgent from the important, the shiny from the strategic, and the loud from the true.
It’s also a muscle most leaders never consciously train.
Where discernment really shows up
Building Ethos, raising four kids, and navigating a mortgage market that shifts faster than my teenagers’ plans has taught me something: discernment hides in the small, everyday choices.
- The decisions you don’t make.
Saying no is underrated. Some of the biggest wins in my life came from resisting something that looked impressive but wasn’t aligned. - The voices you choose to hear.
Everyone has opinions. Few offer wisdom. The people who bring clarity are priceless — the ones who add noise are costly. - The pace you choose to move at.
Speed is impressive, but direction is everything. A leader going nowhere fast is just a stressed-out tourist.
The 2026 leadership paradox
Next year will move even faster:
More AI.
More competition.
More pressure.
More noise disguised as opportunity.
The temptation will be to sprint.
But the leaders who win in 2026 won’t be the ones who exhaust themselves.
They’ll be the ones who see clearly.
They’ll slow down long enough to ask:
- What deserves my energy?
- Who deserves my attention?
- What outcome actually matters?
What would a wise version of me do here?
Discernment builds trust
Teams feel discernment.
Clients feel discernment.
Your family definitely feels it.
When you operate from clarity instead of pressure, you become steadier — and people follow steady leaders.
Even in mortgages.
Especially in mortgages.
A simple practice for the week
One question that changed how I lead:
Before you commit to anything, ask:
“Does this move me closer to who I’m called to be?”
If the answer isn’t a clear yes, it’s a no.
Simple. Not always fun. Transformational.
Closing thought
2026 won’t slow down for any of us. But you can cultivate the ability to stay grounded, clear, and effective — no matter what the market or life throws your way.
Discernment won’t make you louder.
It’ll make you wiser.
And that’s the edge leaders will need next year.
Dino