Podcast Summary: "How Leaders Lead with David Novak"

Episode #272 — 5 Ideas to Lead with More Clarity in 2026

Released January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In this New Year’s Day episode, David Novak, former CEO of Yum! Brands, shares five actionable leadership practices to help listeners begin 2026 with clarity and intention. Drawing on lessons from both his own career and interviews with high-profile leaders, David distills the habits and mindsets that foster meaningful, focused leadership. Joined by co-host Kula, the discussion is candid, practical, and energized by a sense of fresh possibility for the year ahead.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of the “3 by 5” Card: Self-Awareness & Growth

• Practice: At the start of each year, David uses a 3x5 index card for personal reflection.
  • Side 1: “What am I today as a leader?”
  • Side 2: “How can I be even more effective tomorrow?” (for the year ahead)
• Method:
  • Based on self-reflection, feedback, and goals for growth
  • Keeps the card visible—on the refrigerator for daily reminders.
• Emphasis on self-awareness: Recognizing strengths and actively planning for improvement.

“Self awareness is critical. You have to know who you are... I do a self assessment... and then I posted on my refrigerator. So, when I go there it reminds me of my three by five card.”
— David Novak (01:49)

2. Defining Reality: Knowing and Communicating Your Organization’s Truth

• Practice: Clearly articulate the realities facing your organization at the start of the year.
  • Financial reality: Understand the economics and shape of the business.
  • Customer reality: Know what your customers are saying and need.
  • Team member reality: Gauge employee sentiment and perspective.
• Leadership responsibility: The “first responsibility of leadership is to define reality.”

“Have I defined the reality that we face? Because I think the first responsibility of leadership ... is to define reality.”
— David Novak (03:52)

3. Structured Communication: Having—and Working—a Communication Plan

• Practice: Proactively plan how to communicate these realities and priorities to your team throughout the year.
  • Use multiple vehicles: emails, global webinars, real-time updates, personal letters, etc.
  • Frequent, intentional leader-to-team contact amplifies clarity and engagement.
• Why: The more team members know, the more they care.

“You have to have a plan, and you have to work it.... Don’t leave it to chance.”
— David Novak (05:48)

• Notable Leadership Wisdom:
  • Quoting Sam Walton: “The more you know, the more you care.”

4. Recognition: Decide What to Highlight and Have Fun With It

• Practice: Choose a guiding principle or behavior to recognize throughout the year (e.g., customer focus, execution, continual learning).
  • Recognize individuals who exemplify these behaviors.
  • Use recognition as a tool for shaping culture and direction.
  • Make recognition visible, personal, and enjoyable.
• Flexibility: Shift focus annually (e.g., “customer maniacs” one year; “execution” another).

“Recognition is a very important thing... I would always try to recognize the leaders who were exhibiting our How We Work Together principles.”
— David Novak (07:07)

“Have fun doing it.”
— David Novak (10:22)

5. Coaching: Intentional Development of People

• Practice: Identify key people to mentor and coach in the coming year.
  • Develop a plan for regular one-on-ones.
  • Use their 3 by 5 cards as springboards for growth conversations.
  • Extend this practice by encouraging other leaders to build their own coaching plans.
• Amplifies impact: Moves beyond informal or reactive coaching to a deliberate developmental approach.

“You just can’t really leave things to chance.... Who are the people in 2026 that I’m going to really go out of my way to make sure they get my personal attention and coaching?”
— David Novak (08:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On beginning anew:

  “I know you love the beginning of the new year. How are you feeling about 2026?”
  — Kula (00:12)
  “I’m feeling great. 2025 was awesome. 2026 is going to be even better.”
  — David Novak (00:23)

• On leadership and self-improvement:

  “Leadership is all about self improvement. And you’re so right. You can’t really do anything for others unless you truly know yourself and how you’re going to grow yourself.”
  — Kula, recalling Demola, CEO of Red Lobster (03:21)

• On simplicity and discipline:

  “You need to put process and discipline around those five things to make sure that they happen for you and your piece of whatever company you happen to be leading.”
  — David Novak (10:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:49] — Self-awareness & the “3 by 5” card method
• [03:52] — Defining organizational reality (financial, customer, team member)
• [05:48] — Creating and executing a communication plan
• [07:07] — Recognition: what to reward and why
• [08:40] — Coaching: personal plans to develop key team members
• [10:22] — The power of discipline, fun, and wrapping the practices together

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is straightforward, action-oriented, and friendly—mirroring David's personal leadership style. The episode’s core message is that great leadership in 2026 (and any year!) is less about doing more and more, and more about getting clear on what matters, then executing with discipline and heart.

Both David and Kula stress approachable, repeatable habits over complex systems, celebrating the process of intentional leadership.

This summary captures all content-rich, actionable elements of the episode—leaving out advertisements or non-content sections—while staying faithful to the speakers' language and tone.