For leaders, this reflective process goes beyond tidying up. It’s about creating room to innovate, realign, and prepare for the road ahead. As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to ask bold, transformative questions that challenge the status quo and unlock new pathways to success.

Here are five powerful organization design questions to guide your thinking and set the stage for a stronger, more focused 2025.

1. What Should We Let Go Of?

Think of the processes, mindsets, or skills your organization has outgrown. Are there outdated workflows slowing your teams down? Are legacy mindsets limiting innovation? Often, the weight of the old can make it harder to embrace the new.

Example: A mid-sized tech company realized its annual review process was no longer effective. Employees found it tedious, and managers struggled to provide timely feedback. By replacing the old system with quarterly performance conversations, they created a culture of continuous growth and agility.

Reflection: Letting go isn’t about discarding for the sake of change. It’s about recognizing what’s no longer adding value and making room for strategies that drive progress.

2. How Can We Regain Focus?

Focus is a powerful tool, but in today’s fast-paced world, distractions often dilute efforts. What’s the one aspect of your organization’s vision or mission that deserves renewed energy? How can your design amplify that focus?

Example: An international nonprofit rediscovered its mission to support underserved communities by streamlining its priorities. Instead of spreading resources thin across multiple initiatives, they honed in on health access—achieving a measurable increase in outcomes within a year.

Action Tip: Align teams and systems with your core priorities. Invest in tools and structures that remove distractions and channel energy toward what matters most.

3. What Can We Simplify?

Complexity can stall progress. Whether it’s overly layered approval processes, convoluted communication systems, or bloated product lines, simplifying can unlock efficiency and well-being.

Example: A retail chain simplified its internal communications by adopting a centralized digital platform. The move reduced email overload and increased cross-team transparency, improving collaboration and decision-making speed.

Key Insight: Simplification isn’t just about doing less; it’s about focusing better. By streamlining, organizations can optimize results and foster a culture of clarity and action.

4. How Can We Better Engage?

True engagement doesn’t come from surface-level initiatives or forced camaraderie. It’s built on meaningful connections and a shared sense of purpose. How can your organization design initiatives that inspire genuine commitment?

Example: A manufacturing company struggling with employee turnover introduced team-driven decision-making and recognition programs. The changes increased employee satisfaction and strengthened alignment with organizational goals.

Practical Step: Ask yourself: Are your engagement efforts aligning employees with your mission, or are they just feel-good activities? Authentic engagement requires designing structures that empower and energize your people.

5. How Will We Stay Relevant?

The pace of change is relentless, and staying relevant requires more than just adapting to trends. It’s about anticipating future demands and positioning your organization to lead.

Example: A consumer goods company shifted its focus to sustainability, redesigning its supply chain to reduce carbon emissions. This not only kept them competitive but also turned them into an industry leader in environmentally responsible practices.

Pro Tip: Use scenario planning to anticipate industry shifts and build flexibility into your organization’s design. Staying relevant means shaping the future, not just reacting to it.

As the final days of December tick by, these questions offer a powerful framework for reflection. They emphasize not only what to leave behind but also what to embrace as

you step into the new year.

Ask yourself:

• What are we holding onto that’s holding us back?

• Where does our focus need to sharpen to drive results?

• How can we streamline for simplicity and efficiency?

• What will truly engage and energize our teams?

• How can we lead, not just adapt, in an ever-changing landscape?

Answering these questions isn’t a one-time exercise—it’s the start of a mindset shift that prioritizes adaptability, clarity, and meaningful progress. Let’s set the stage for 2025 to be a year of focus, innovation, and success.