It is not uncommon at this time of year in my client work to be having lots of conversations about ending the year well, about managing the overwhelm and high volume workload that this time of year typically brings, or about the downtime that leaders are looking forward to with their family as the Christmas season approaches.
When we are able to make and take the time to pause and reflect on the year that has passed, inevitably we can create perspective for what we want to create in the year ahead. Next year may still seem a long way off and for some of you, not even in your foreseeable ability to consider yet – and yet, it’s likely that your work year will begin in 6-8 weeks from now (if not before!).
What that means is that it’s timely now to be considering, as some of my executive clients have been, what setting up 2026 well needs to look like for yourselves and your teams. Getting highly intentional on what you need to put in place now, for the start of 2026, to support the strategy, energy and direction of your teams. Creating the time and space in diaries now to get together early in the new year to plan and create strategies to support the growth or direction of your business for next year.
No time to think about 2026 now? Just do this – put some time in the diary now – time for your strategic thinking as you return from leave and before you get into the “rush and busy” of the inbox, the activity and the day to day, and time for your teams to meet and re-align and re-energize on the strategic priorities of the business. As I discussed with one client recently – early February will be here before you know it, and if you don’t have strategic time scheduled in collective diaries then or before then, it will be April and you will have lost nearly the first quarter of the year!
Take a few minutes to consider the following reflection questions as we end the week.
Question 1
What will “ending the year well” look like for you, and for your team?
Question 2
In setting up 2026 well, what time do you need to schedule in your diary now, and with your teams, to support time for creating intentional strategy, energy and direction?
Question 3
What habits or routines will you establish in the new year to support your most intentional and effective leadership practices?
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—Nicole