6 Tools for Holistic Self-Development in 2026

On the Nordic Business Forum stage, world-class experts share a variety of ideas and tools, but inspiration alone rarely changes anything. These need to be turned into action, which is easier said than done.

Amongst all the good ideas we heard this year, Gianpiero Petriglieri reminded us that work and life aren’t two separate things. Developing ourselves professionally and personally doesn’t happen independently either, and when one is lagging, the other often follows suit. On the other hand, they support each other, and improvements in one can lead to improvements in the other.

So, instead of separating these two parts of ourselves, we examined the tips our 2025 speakers provided from a more holistic self-development perspective: What immediately useful advice did they offer that we can apply both at work and in life more broadly?

Let’s see how we can integrate these tips to develop ourselves and our lives in a better direction, whatever that may look like for you!

1. Start and USE a Not-To-Do List

We are often aware of the redundant routine tasks at work, but these sneaky, unhelpful habits follow us in all parts of life. April Rinne challenges the default obsession with doing more and encourages leaders to reclaim their sanity by tracking what not to do. According to her, subtraction—not addition—is often the fastest path to clarity.

She suggests keeping a not-to-do list: recurring tasks, obligations, or habits that drain you more than they help. Removing these frees space for what truly matters.

Why it works:

Removing trivial commitments can reduce overwhelm, increase mental space, and improve decision-making. A not-to-do list helps you stop engaging in habits that cause stress or guilt: doom-scrolling, checking emails before bed, saying yes when you meant no. It creates intentional boundaries that protect your time and well-being.

At work, it prevents energy leaks. Unnecessary meetings, outdated processes, or tasks you’ve simply outgrown can silently consume hours of your time (and heaps of your mental capacity). Cutting them strengthens focus and performance.

Try it today:

Write down three tasks or habits you commit not to do this week—meetings you decline, responsibilities you delegate, or routines you discontinue.

2. Add A “Plus-One” Skill

Howard Yu warns that in an era of AI and rapid change, expertise alone is no longer enough. What protects your career and unlocks future opportunities is cultivating a plus-one skill: one adjacent capability that expands the range of problems you can solve. His research shows that future-ready professionals don’t reinvent themselves entirely; they simply keep adding the next small, meaningful layer.

Focus on the “next small, meaningful layer”. With all the change around us, it’s overwhelming to try to keep up. We can tend to either A) feel like we need to know everything about everything all at once, or B) dive deep and aim to become an expert before feeling like our knowledge and abilities are worth utilizing. Neither of these is necessarily true, nor helpful. Instead, choose one thing at a time, and develop that skill to an extent that it supports what you are already doing.

Why it works:

AI automates narrow expertise, not unique combinations. Therefore, your “skill stack” becomes your competitive edge. Professionally, combined skills differentiate you. A marketer with data analytics stands out; a developer with storytelling becomes invaluable. These combinations are far harder for AI to replace.

Most importantly, a plus-one skill strengthens your overall adaptability. Learning negotiation skills improves relationships, studying psychology deepens empathy, and engaging in a creative hobby increases resilience and mental flexibility.

Try it today:

Finish this sentence: “Beyond my current capabilities, the new skill I’m going to scale is…” Choose one and commit to 20 minutes of learning each day. If this seems too optimistic, try to find a time slot each week to commit to your new skill. And please, choose one, not twenty.

3. Reimagine from Scratch Instead of Just Improving What Exists

Old habits lead to old routines, and tweaking just one part of your old pattern usually isn’t enough to fix the root issues. You might not even feel like anything needs fixing, since things have been working okay so far.

Diana Kander argues that past success can become a barrier to future success. When something is “working,” people stop questioning it. Instead of asking how to improve the current system, Diana urges leaders to start from a blank sheet of paper and imagine how they would design the product, process, or routine if they were building it today. This does not mean you have to change everything immediately, but it can help you see the things that definitely need changing and give you a place to start.

Why it works:

Focusing on incremental improvement keeps you tied to the old system. Reimagining from scratch liberates creativity and reveals solutions you’d never see if you only tweaked what already exists. It’s easy to get stuck in routines you never intentionally chose, and reimagining from scratch helps you redesign your morning routine, your fitness habits, or your budgeting approach using what works for who you are now, not who you were years ago.

Similarly, teams often inherit outdated processes, legacy workflows, or “the way we’ve always done it.” A blank-sheet approach surfaces better, faster, simpler ways to operate, unconstrained by past decisions or sunk costs.

Try it today:

Choose one area, such as your weekly calendar or a recurring meeting, and ask: “If I were designing this today for the first time, what would it look like?” Then make at least one change toward that new version.

4. Ask for Help

We live in a fairly individualistic society, where we’ve learned to try to survive on our own. But to build trust with others and succeed in our endeavors, we simply can’t do everything by ourselves.

Simon Sinek argues that we build stronger relationships when we ask for help. Asking signals vulnerability and invites others into meaningful contribution. According to him, people feel trusted and valued when you let them support you. Together with Diana Kander’s idea of building a “pit crew,” bringing in unexpected collaborators can unlock breakthroughs you could never create by yourself. Together, they reveal that innovation and connection both begin with the courage to involve others.

Why it works:

Asking for help deepens intimacy and signals honesty, humility, and openness. Whether it’s sharing emotional load, asking a neighbor for support, or letting someone teach you a skill, it strengthens connection and furthers you on your journey.

At work, it builds psychological safety. When leaders ask for help, they normalize collaboration and model that not knowing everything is okay. As people become accustomed to asking for help and supporting one another, the entire team collaborates and operates more effectively than before.

Try it today:

Ask one colleague or friend for help with something small but meaningful, like feedback on a document, insight into a decision, or a task you’ve been over-managing.

5. Start Before You Feel Ready

What is the most common barrier stopping you from starting something? Whether you say it’s a lack of resources, a lack of skill, or anything else, it all boils down to the same issue: not feeling ready.

Rick Rubin reminds us that creativity rarely begins with certainty. Instead of waiting for perfect conditions, he encourages leaders to start before they feel ready, trusting that clarity emerges through action. His philosophy reframes hesitation: perfectionism is just fear in disguise. If we always wait for the perfect conditions and perfect resources, we’ll never get anything done.

Why it works:

Momentum creates clarity, waiting for certainty delays growth, and beginning invites it. Starting before you’re ready helps you overcome procrastination, whether it’s starting a fitness habit, beginning a passion project, or making a difficult change. Action builds confidence.

Even at work, early starts fuel momentum. Proposals get drafted sooner, ideas get prototyped, innovation accelerates. The people around you will also be empowered to join the action and share their ideas.

Try it today:

Choose one project you’ve been avoiding. Draft the paragraph. Sketch the idea. Record the voice memo. Take a picture of something that reminds you of the thing. Whatever it is, just start.

6. Have Two Ongoing Conversations with Yourself and Others

Gianpiero Petriglieri believes leadership is not a technique but a relationship. Great leaders make people feel both safe and free. One of the simplest ways to create that environment is through two ongoing conversations:

• “What we make” — How our work creates value and where it causes harm.
• “How we live” — How our culture shapes us and what it costs us.

It’s not a bad idea to apply these questions in your personal life as well. What in my life feels valuable, and what is harmful? How is the way I live shaping me, both in good and in bad?

Why it works:

Small, honest conversations prevent bigger problems and strengthen connections, creating a workplace that feels more like a home for talent. Regular reflection builds trust, psychological safety, and alignment. It ensures culture stays alive, healthy, responsive, and not stagnant.

These questions also deepen self-awareness and help you evaluate relationships, habits, and environments. They surface what nourishes you and what drains you.

Try it today:

Ask these two questions at home, at work, or both:

• “What here is making us better?”
• “What here is making us worse?”

Listen carefully to the answers, both your own and those of others.

Make 2026 the Year of Simple Progress

The new year is coming fast, and it won’t be any less overwhelming than the last. The never-ending list of things we should be doing isn’t likely to disappear, but there’s quite a bit we can do to manage it. Try one of the things on this list now, add another one in a few weeks, and see what works.