How Leaders Can Tune Out the Noise to Keep Teams Focused

Extract from: How Leaders Can Tune Out the Noise to Keep Teams Focused published on Rolling Stone Culture Council January 15, 2026

New tools, shifting markets and endless “next big things” can quickly overwhelm even the most capable teams. While staying informed is essential, chasing every trend often leads to diluted priorities and stalled progress.

For leaders, the real challenge is deciding what truly deserves attention and what can be tuned out. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share how they filter out the noise, set clear priorities and help their teams stay grounded in the work that actually moves the business forward, even amid constant disruption.

Filter Everything With Who, What, How and Why

I cut through the noise with four filters: Who, What, How and Why. We anchor everything to our core audience of entrepreneurs (the who). We evaluate trends against the enduring need to control their online destiny (the what). Finally, we build repeatable AI systems using our proprietary data-driven framework (the how) to ensure they make money (the why). - Jason Barnard, Kalicube®