The start of a new year and a new quarter gives you something you don’t get very often—a real fresh start. People are more open to changing how they work right now. That window doesn’t stay open long, so it’s worth using it for a purpose.

If you want to level up execution in Q1, choose one or two new habits to roll out across the business.

1. Take a hard look at goal quality.
Clear priorities drive execution. Vague ones create confusion and rework. This is a good moment to pressure-test Q1 priorities, make sure they are specific, measurable, active, and clearly tied to the strategy, and check to see if it's a true Priority (full quarter) or a Task (2 hrs to 2 days). Remember a Priority is different than a Project. 

👉 Challenge every person who owns a Priority to revise that Priority using the AI Coach in Align. Make clarity the standard, not the exception.

2. Raise the bar on updates.
If weekly or daily meetings sound like a list of tasks, you’re missing the insights that actually improve performance. Better updates focus on analysis, clearing obstacles, action plans, and learning—not just activity.

👉 Ask every team to update their Priorities each week by answering three questions in Huddle: Are we making real progress? What’s off-track and what am I going to do about it? What did we learn this week?

3. Be crystal clear on prioritization.
Focus drives execution. When teams try to push five priorities forward at once, nothing really moves. One clear priority creates alignment and better trade-offs.

👉 Require each team to identify a single #1 Priority for Q1 in Align and explicitly describe how it impacts the company’s Critical Number or Company Priority (use the description section on the Priority).  

4. Lean into consistent rhythms.

Consistent rhythms prevent the “set it and forget it” trap. When leaders set clear expectations that teams are accountable for Priority progress on a regular cadence, focus stays on the few items that actually move the business forward—not the fires of the week. Done well, these rhythms surface issues early, create space for help, and keep priorities front and center all quarter long.

👉 Lock in two huddles that drive execution momentum. Use a Daily Huddle (15 minutes or less) to surface issues quickly and reduce interruptions and email chaos throughout the day. Use a Weekly Huddle to ensure Priorities and Critical Numbers stay front of mind. These rhythms only work when they’re run the right way—this guide shows how to make them count. Bonus for adding a Monthly KPI review!

Make Smart Moves Today (and in 2026) for Big Wins Tomorrow!

- The Align Technologies Corp Team

PS - Need a little guidance for changing over the period to Q1?  Check out the Academy guide here.