The Bridge, January 2026
Welcome to the January edition of the Bridging Analytics Monthly.
We are kicking off 2026 with a singular focus: Strategic Planning & Team Alignment.
Too many organizations start the year with a "to-do list" and call it a strategy. But a list just keeps you busy; a map gets you somewhere.
Here are 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to help you build a plan that actually works.
3 IDEAS FROM US
I. Plan
Great missions fail without great maps.
It is easy to confuse "busyness" with progress. You can run incredibly hard, burn out your team, and exhaust your budget—all while moving in the wrong direction.
A true strategic plan isn't about adding more work; it’s about plotting a specific course. It separates the "good ideas" from the "essential few." If your plan doesn't explicitly tell you what not to do this year, it’s not a map—it’s just a list of distractions.
II. Measure
You can't measure execution if you haven't measured alignment.
Before you obsess over your KPIs for Q1, assess the clarity of your team. Do they understand why the goal exists?
The most expensive problems in an organization usually stem from a "Vision Gap"—the distance between what the leader sees and what the team understands. If you don't measure and close that gap first, your performance metrics will always lag behind your potential.
III. Grow
To grow your impact, you must map your genius.
Frustration often happens when we force a team member to work against their natural grain. One person loves dreaming up big ideas (Invention), while another loves finishing the details (Tenacity). Both are necessary, but they are often in conflict.
Using the Working Genius Team Map, you can visually see where your team thrives and where you have gaps. Growth happens when you stop fighting your team's natural wiring and start leveraging it.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: Strategic Planning & Team Alignment
Do you have a map for 2026?
If your team feels busy but misaligned, we can help you pause and reset.
Our Strategic Planning Workshops utilize the 6 Types of Working Genius framework to build a "Team Map"—a visual guide that aligns your strategy with your team’s natural strengths. We help you move from a collection of individuals to a unified force.
Learn more about our Strategic Planning Services
2 QUOTES FROM OTHERS
I. Author and leadership expert John Maxwell on the necessity of navigation:
"Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course."
II. Management consultant Peter Drucker on the difference between efficiency and effectiveness:
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all."
1 QUESTION FOR YOU
Look at your calendar for this week: How much of your time is dedicated to "busyness" (keeping the lights on) versus "progress" (moving the mission forward)?
Until next month,
The Bridging Analytics Team
Plan. Measure. Grow.
www.bridginganalyticsllc.com
