Make the Most of the First Meeting of the Year with Your Team

The first meeting back after the holidays is a great chance to reconnect and set the tone for the year. Encourage the team to share what they learned or noticed over the break — not just holiday highlights — and be sensitive that not everyone may have had time off or may be dealing with personal challenges.

Take a few minutes to share your own perspective: what you’re looking forward to, your priorities, and where you hope the team will shine. If you’re ready, try something new — give a team member the chair role, invite agenda topics in advance, or, if you meet face-to-face, bring small treats to mark the new year.

Finally, ask the team: “If there’s one thing we could do better or differently this year, what would it be?” Capture the ideas, display them, and revisit over the next 100 days. Done thoughtfully, this first meeting reconnects the team, sparks dialogue, and sets a collaborative, human-focused tone for the year.