A Look Back and Ahead: The Power of “One Word” for 2025

In January 2024, I wrote about the importance of choosing a word that would guide and inspire you in your business and personal life.

It’s fascinating to see how the power of a single word can shape a year, and it’s interesting to reflect on how it played out in 2024 for you. I’d like to invite you to pause and reflect on the word you chose to guide your year.

Did you choose a word for 2024?

• If so, how did you live by it in your personal and business life?
• What impact did it have on your decisions, actions, and overall mindset throughout the year?
• Did it help you navigate challenges, find clarity, or stay focused on what truly matters?
• Were there any specific moments or achievements that were a direct result of staying true to that word?

Looking ahead to 2025, this practice of selecting one guiding word remains just as powerful, if not more so. The world of flooring retail continues to evolve, driven by trends in technology, consumer preferences, and market forces. The word chosen for 2025 could help your business remain resilient, foster creativity, or maintain a customer-first mindset amid growing competition and changing expectations.

As we enter this new year, I encourage you to embrace whatever word you choose, with open arms and a ready heart. Let it guide you to new heights in your business, relationships, and health.

As a leader, choosing a word that encapsulates your focus for the year can be a guiding force for both you and your team. But it’s not just a personal decision-it’s a powerful strategy for uniting and motivating your employees. Here’s why:

• Creates Clarity and Alignment: When a leader selects a single word for the year, it sets a clear intention that resonates throughout the organization. For example, if the word is “Innovation”, it sends a message to the team that creative thinking, new ideas, and forward-thinking strategies are going to be prioritized. This clarity helps employees understand what the focus will be for the year, providing them with a roadmap of sorts. It gives them a sense of direction and helps them align their personal goals with the business’s larger vision.
• Inspires Focused Action: Choosing a word like “Collaboration” or “Excellence” empowers employees to take specific actions that align with that value. When a word is consistently communicated by leadership, it becomes a touchstone that everyone can refer back to when making decisions, setting priorities, and approaching their work. Employees know what is expected of them, and the word helps them focus their energies on achieving what matters most. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by endless tasks, the team is encouraged to stay on track and focus on what will drive the most impact.
• Fosters a Unified Culture: A leader’s word can serve as a rallying cry that shapes the culture of the organization. If a company’s leader chooses “Empathy”, for example, it can encourage a workplace culture that prioritizes understanding, support, and collaboration among employees. It’s not just about the bottom line, it’s about building a community within the company. When employees see that their leader values and embodies the word, they are more likely to adopt it in their own interactions with colleagues and clients, leading to a more cohesive and positive work environment.
• Encourages Employee Engagement: When a leader chooses a word and shares it with their team, it gives employees a sense of ownership in the organization’s journey. Employees who know the company’s vision and focus for the year feel more connected to the company’s mission. They feel like active participants in the process, rather than passive contributors. This sense of involvement boosts engagement, motivation, and pride in the workplace. It can even spark creative ideas, as employees begin thinking about how their own work can contribute to the greater goal.
• Promotes Accountability: Having a single guiding word for the year also creates accountability. If the leader has chosen a word like “Growth”, it’s easier for both the leader and the team to measure success and track progress throughout the year. It sets the tone for regular reflection and evaluation and provides a clear framework for measuring both individual and team performance. Employees can take ownership of how they embody that word in their work and contributions, leading to a stronger sense of responsibility and pride in their accomplishments.
• Strengthens Leadership: A leader who selects a word for the year demonstrates foresight, self-awareness, and commitment. It signals to the team that their leader is focused, intentional, and ready to steer the organization in the right direction. When employees see that their leader is taking the time to thoughtfully choose a word that will drive the company forward, it instills confidence in the leadership. It shows that the leader is proactive and committed to fostering a successful, purposeful year.
• Increases Resilience: Choosing a word can also serve as a touchstone during challenging times. For example, if the word is “Resilience”, it can remind the team to push through obstacles and stay determined in the face of adversity. It helps create a mindset shift, where challenges become opportunities for growth, rather than setbacks. When everyone is on the same page about how to navigate difficult moments, the team is better equipped to maintain momentum and continue striving toward success.

The Ripple Effect: As a leader, your word for the year isn’t just something that guides your own actions—it has the potential to ripple out to your team, influencing how they approach their work and interactions with each other. The energy you bring to your chosen word will inspire your employees to embrace it too. It creates a collective focus, helping everyone move forward together with intention, purpose, and alignment.

I encourage you to take a moment to choose your One Word for the year and to share it with your team. Make it a team conversation—ask your employees what word they would choose for themselves and why. Together, as a group, you can create a sense of unity, purpose, and shared vision. It’s an opportunity to ignite passion, drive success, and build a workplace culture that thrives.

I invite you to also share your chosen word with me @ fstaten@wfca.org and briefly tell me why you selected it. Let’s create a movement of people who are committed to living with purpose, intention, and clarity. And let’s make 2025 a year where we all step into our full potential—together.

As we reflect on the power of choosing a guiding word for the year, I highly recommend reading One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page. I just finished it, and it was a short and incredible read. The book explores how focusing on a single word can transform your life, both personally and professionally, by providing clarity, purpose, and direction. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to start the year with a meaningful focus and to harness the power of simplicity in their goals and actions. If you haven’t yet, it’s definitely worth checking out!

Here’s to a focused, purposeful, and thriving 2025.s success.