Hey CEOs, this is your coach, Dr. Andrea Dickerson, and I’m excited to walk with you into 2026 has in store. But before we step into a brand-new year, I want you to slow down, stop for a moment, and reflect.

What has your business been telling you this year?

Every single year, your business speaks. Through the results. Through the patterns. Through the chaos. Through the wins. Through the losses. The question is:

Are you listening?

If you want to operate a smooth-running childcare corporation—one where systems work, staff follow through, and classrooms practically run themselves—then keep reading. Today’s blog will help you decode what your business has been trying to tell you for the past 12 months.

When Chaos Shows Up in Your Classrooms, It’s Not a Teacher Problem

If your classrooms are:

• constantly chaotic,
• unorganized,
• running behind schedule, or
• your teachers come to you about everything…
  

…it’s not because people aren’t “good enough.”

It’s a systems problem.

With the right systems, your center can operate smoothly—even on days when you’re short-staffed or when unexpected challenges pop up.

That’s why the Classroom Systems Blueprint exists.

It’s a digital training + editable workbook funnel designed to help you systemize every classroom, step by step.
You’ll get:

• Detailed video training
• Editable workbooks
• Amazon material setup guides
• Staff planning tools
  

All to help you eliminate stress and create order.
Click here to get your access.

What Your Business Is Trying to Tell You — And What You Must Do About It

Below are the top signals your business sends when something is off—and how to respond like a system-strong CEO.

1. Repeating Problems = Missing Accountability Systems

If you keep seeing patterns such as:

• Directors not following through
• Teachers not executing the way you expect
• Instructions not being carried out consistently
  

Then your accountability and follow-up systems are your weakest link.

There should be structure.
There should be follow-through.
There should be consistency.

If not, problems will repeat—because no system exists to stop them.

➡️ Book a call at www.workwithcoachandrea.com
Let’s identify your leaks and plug them together

2. When Leadership Slips, Check Your Weekly Check-Ins

If your leadership team is:

• slipping,
• lacking follow-through, or
• drifting off track…
  

…it’s a sign your weekly admin check-ins have not been consistent.

Without weekly accountability:

• There’s no checkpoint.
• No reset.
• No reflection.
• And no enforcement.
  

Even with vacations, busy weeks, or off days, there should be no fewer than four checkpoints per month.

A leadership team without structure will naturally drift.

3. When Systems Break Under Pressure, They Haven’t Been Maintained

Systems don’t stay successful on their own. They require maintenance.

Systems break when:

• Staffing gets tight
• Someone quits mid-day
• Enrollment suddenly increases
• Workload spikes
• A staff member stops following procedures
  

If the system collapses at the first sign of pressure, it means it hasn’t been reviewed, updated, or reinforced.

Maintenance happens through:

• Weekly check-ins
• Reviewing workflows
• Understanding close-out reports
• Adjusting procedures quickly
• Teaching staff to think in systems
  

A system ignored is a system guaranteed to fail.

4. When Operations Fail Across Locations, There Is No Synchronization

If you operate multiple sites, you may notice:

• One location does things one way
• Another has its own version
• Nothing looks the same
• Expectations vary
• Results are inconsistent
  

Most operational failures happen because there is no synchronized foundation system across all locations.

Every work area needs a standardized structure, including:

• Classrooms
• Director’s office
• CEO office
• Kitchen
• Transportation

Your team must know:

• how items should be laid out,
• what to do in each space,
• and what the expectations are everywhere.
  

Without a unified framework, operations fall apart—and leadership becomes impossible.

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The Foundation System That Fixes 90% of Owner Problems

The System Starter Kit: A 21-Step Childcare Must-Have Kit

This foundational system helps you:

• Create order in every classroom
• Train teachers with clarity and confidence
• Reduce daily chaos and overwhelm
• Set predictable expectations across your center
• Improve consistency and follow-through
• Protect your standards—even when you’re not onsite

It’s the essential starting point for owners who are ready to run a smoother, stronger, more system-driven childcare business.

If your business has been speaking to you—through patterns, challenges, or recurring frustrations—this is the foundation you’ve been missing.

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Final Thoughts

Your business is always speaking.
The real question is:

Are you listening?

As you move toward a new year, remember:

If you manage the childcare business you love, you will love the childcare business you manage.

Let’s build the structure, systems, and freedom you deserve.