The phrase “New Year, New You” is everywhere at this time of year. For some, it signals reinvention. For others, it creates unnecessary pressure to reset everything at once. But in business, progress rarely comes from starting over.

A new year doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your brand, strategy, or operations. You don’t need to discard what’s already working. Instead, it’s an opportunity to refine, evolve, and build on existing strengths. Think of the new year not as a reset, but as a strategic moment to unlock fresh opportunities, sharpen your positioning, and elevate what you’ve already established.

So, whether you’re a small team, a large team, riding solo, or a big agency, the principles are the same. Here are six steps to help you set goals with ease and make 2026 your best year yet—and yes, we’ve even backed this with science.

Step 1: Reflect Before You Reset

The first step in creating new opportunities for your brand is reflection. Your past year holds the blueprint for your future success. Everything you need to grow is already there, you just need to uncover it.

Take time to review the wins, the misses, and the lessons learned. This isn’t about labelling things as “successes” or “failures,” but about identifying what worked well and what could work better. Reflection gives you clarity, and clarity is the foundation for growth.

So ask yourself:

What worked well?

What were our key challenges?

What could we have done differently?

Depending on the size of your business, it may be worthwhile to break this down into key departments or areas – for example: Marketing & PR, Sales, Finance and Operations.

These pillars give you a clear lens to assess what worked, what didn’t, and where the biggest opportunities lie for growth in 2026. These are just some of the questions we’d start with:

Marketing and PR

Which campaigns delivered the highest ROI?

Which channels performed best and which ones didn't deliver the results you hoped for?

Did your PR outreach convert into meaningful coverage?

Sales

Did you achieve revenue targets?

How strong were conversion rates?

Where did leads drop off in the funnel?

Finance

Was your business profitable last year?

Did you stick to your budget?

Were you able to pay your bills on time?

What cost-savings were you able to implement?

Operations

Were your team happy and fulfilled in their roles?

Did we experience resource bottlenecks?

Do you have well documented processes and procedures?

Were deadlines consistently met?

Step 2: Set SMART Goals for 2026

Goals without clarity are just wishes. It’s the same as personal goals—if you simply tell yourself you want to “get fit” in 2026, you’re already setting yourself up for failure. Why? Because there’s no roadmap. What are the actionable steps your team needs to take that will get you there?

The best way to avoid vague goals is to use the SMART framework:

Specific – Define exactly what you want to achieve.

Measurable – Attach numbers or metrics to track progress.

Achievable – Make sure it’s realistic given your resources.

Relevant – Align it with your broader business objectives.

Time-bound – Set a clear deadline.

Example:
Instead of saying “Increase revenue,” say:
“Increase revenue by 20% by December 2026 through expanding our influencer partnerships and optimizing paid campaigns.”

This isn’t just a nice framework—decades of research show that specific, challenging goals consistently drive higher performance than vague or easy ones. Locke & Latham’s goal-setting theory also reveals that goals have an energizing effect: the higher the goal, the greater the effort. So don’t see your goals as hard tasks to dread. Make them exciting, ambitious targets your team wants to chase, and back them with clear feedback and buy-in.

Step 3: Get Your Team on the Same Page

Once you have clarity on your goals, objectives, and actions, the next step is alignment. Depending on how big your business is, this can look very different. If you run a bigger business, it’s not only important for your leadership team to understand the big picture, but your wider team also needs visibility on the goals and priorities for the year ahead. This doesn’t mean sharing every financial detail or the ins and outs of the business with the newest intern—but it does mean ensuring everyone is working toward the same objectives.

When your team understands the “why” behind the goals, they’re more engaged, more motivated, and more likely to contribute ideas that move the needle. Alignment turns strategy into action.

Host a 2026 Kick-Off Meeting. Frame it positively. Make it fun and engaging. Begin with a quick game or icebreaker to lighten the mood and bring coffee or sweet treats to create a welcoming atmosphere (and because who doesn’t love a sweet treat?). Then, share the year’s priorities clearly and confidently, explaining the “why” behind the goals so everyone understands the bigger picture. Use visuals like roadmaps or dashboards to make the plan tangible and encourage feedback and ideas. Alignment works best when it’s a two-way conversation.

When your team feels connected to the vision, they’re more engaged, motivated, and ready to execute.

Step 4: Write It Down (Bring Back “Written Wishes”)

It might sound obvious, but writing down your goals has a powerful impact on whether you achieve them. In fact, a study by psychology professor Dr. Gail Matthews found that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to accomplish them.

Why does it work? Writing forces clarity. It turns vague intentions into concrete commitments and imprints them in your mind. Typing can feel automatic, but handwriting requires conscious thought—you’re choosing your goals deliberately. And let’s be honest, crossing them off later is incredibly satisfying.

So, grab a notebook, planner, or even a vision board, and put your goals on paper. Invite your team to do the same. If you’ve got the time, sit down in smaller groups or departments and have the team write down their own specific goals that will contribute to the bigger picture. Encourage them to include both business-related and personal goals, because when people feel invested in their own growth as well as the company’s success, motivation skyrockets.

Then, make the company-wide goals visible, tangible, and real. Put your roadmap somewhere the whole team can see and revisit it regularly. Highlight progress during team check-ins so everyone stays focused and aligned. When goals are front and centre, they become part of the daily rhythm. And as the list slowly gets ticked off, the entire team feels that sense of achievement and momentum.

Step 5: Equip Your Team with the Right Tools

Big goals need the right support systems. Equip your team with tools that make planning and execution seamless. Use project management platforms like Asana, Monday.com and Click Up to keep everyone on track. Tap into analytics tools like Google Analytics or HubSpot to measure progress. And don’t underestimate the power of visual motivation—create digital vision boards in Canva or Miro to keep your goals front and centre.

Even small touches matter. A fresh planner, a well-designed calendar, or a set of beautiful pens can make the process feel exciting and intentional. The goal is to create an environment where planning feels inspiring, not overwhelming.

If amplifying your PR efforts is part of your strategy for 2026, Flaunter is here to help.

Goals and plans are only as good as the systems you use to execute them. If PR coverage, influencer partnerships, and brand visibility are on your list this year, Flaunter can help you turn those ambitions into measurable results.

For brands and agencies, use Flaunter to streamline sample requests, manage media outreach, and track coverage in one place—so your team spends less time chasing logistics and more time building relationships that matter. Flaunter’s platform makes it easy to share your brand story with the right creators and journalists, ensuring your goals for exposure and engagement aren’t just written down—they’re achieved.

For media, creators and stylists, Flaunter is your shortcut to discovering fresh talent and unique products. Whether you’re hunting for small Australian labels for an editorial shoot or sourcing pieces for a feature, Flaunter connects you directly with brands ready to collaborate. No endless email chains, no chasing samples—just a curated, searchable platform that saves time and sparks creativity.

Think of Flaunter as the bridge between ambition and action. Your goals for exposure, engagement, and storytelling don’t just stay on paper—they come to life.

Ready to make 2026 your brand’s best year yet? Start your PR and media strategy with Flaunter today.

Sign up for our 2-week free trial or reach out to a team member at hello@flaunter.com for a complimentary discovery call.

Progress, Not Pressure: Get Your Brand Ready for 2026