The final week of the year often heightens our awareness of time and transition—a unique juncture where the past and future converge, offering a fleeting yet profound opportunity for reflection and renewal. Denise refers to this as a “magical moment” filled with wisdom, hope, strength, and courage. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and declare your current stance.

What Is Stance?

Stance represents the integration of past experiences and future possibilities, empowering you to adopt a fresh, resilient perspective. By definition:

  1. The attitude or position of a standing person or animal, especially the position assumed by an athlete preparatory to action.
  2. Mental posture; point of view.

In other words, stance is both a physical and mental readiness—a preparatory position for intentional action and adaptive change.

Navigating Complexity: The Navigation Process

In Complexity Works!, we introduce the Navigation Process as a structured yet flexible guide for understanding past patterns and engaging with new possibilities for transformation. The process centers on reflective questions that encourage teams to assess, prioritize, act, and learn.

Just as one year transitions to the next, teams can leverage this process to reflect on completed projects and set the stage for new initiatives. Reflection helps uncover patterns and influences that shape future actions, while collaborative discussions lay the groundwork for innovative thinking and collective growth.

A Practical Suggestion for Year-End Review

We encourage teams to incorporate the Navigation Process as part of their year-end review and early-year planning. Here’s how:

  1. Individual Reflection: Have each team member answer key Navigation Process questions independently, focusing on their personal insights and experiences.
  2. Team Discussion: Convene as a group to share individual reflections and discuss the questions from the collective team’s perspective.
  3. Track Outcomes: Document the outcomes and themes from your discussion. These insights can serve as a foundation for future strategies and actions.
  4. Early-Year Review: Revisit and refine your team’s stance during the first two weeks of the new year, aligning your vision and approach for the months ahead.

Why Stance Matters

The real power of developing a stance lies in its dual focus on reflection and action. This practice fosters adaptability, clarity, and momentum—qualities that are essential for navigating complex organizational landscapes.

We believe this process can unlock the insight, innovation, and change necessary to make a meaningful difference. We wish you and your organization a year filled with purpose and progress.