Before the Year Ends: A Leadership Invitation to Pause, Reflect, and Go Deeper

 As leaders—of our families, teams, organizations, communities, and yes, even ourselves—we’re often moving so fast that December becomes something to “survive,” not savor. We rush toward the finish line, hoping to tie up loose ends while juggling gifts, gatherings, deadlines, and end-of-year expectations.

But what if this season is not meant to be a race?

What if winter is actually an invitation to slow down… to go deeper… to reflect?

The Roots Grow When the Branches Rest

I often think about the trees in winter. Above the ground, they look dormant—bare, still, maybe even lifeless. But beneath the surface, the roots are strengthening. They’re expanding, reaching further, preparing for the growth that spring will bring.

As leaders, we need that same kind of root work.

External stillness. Internal deepening.

Winter gives us that permission.

Before thinking about what your family needs, what your team needs, or what your board or organization needs… you have to start with you. Your clarity. Your alignment. Your unfinished business. Your growth.

Because the truth is: You cannot lead others into spaces you haven’t gone yourself.

What Is Left Undone?

Take a moment to reflect on your year:

• What tasks, conversations, priorities, or goals are still incomplete?

• What needs to be tied up before you can mentally and emotionally close out 2025?

• What have you been carrying that you’re ready to set down?

We often don’t realize how much “unfinished” energy we bring into a new year. And what we don’t complete, we tend to repeat.

This is why year-end reflection is more than an exercise—it’s a reset.

The Bucket List of the Soul

Imagine sitting with your personal “bucket list” for life and leadership—not just the big dreams, but the quieter ones you rarely voice:

• What do you want to experience more of?

• What brings you joy, meaning, or a sense of accomplishment?

• What would it look like to finish 2025 feeling truly fulfilled?

• What might be possible in 2026 if you went deeper now?

Reflection is not indulgent. It’s intentional.

It’s the work of leaders who want to live on purpose, not autopilot.

In the Midst of the Hustle, Be Present With Yourself

December is beautiful—and busy. We attend holiday parties, buy gifts, decorate our homes, and connect with those we love. Yet in the midst of that, leaders often forget to connect with the one person whose presence matters most:

Yourself.

Before you pour into others, pour into your own clarity.

Before you plan for your team, plan for your own well-being.

Before you close out the year, center your own voice and needs.

This isn’t selfish. This is stewardship.

The Power of Space—and Support

When was the last time you set aside intentional space just for you?

Not to check a box.

Not to plan an event.

Not to manage someone else’s crisis.

But simply to reflect?

Coaching creates that kind of space—clarity-building, grounding, forward-moving space. A place to talk through what’s left undone, what’s weighing on you, what you want to release, and what you want to take ownership of in the year ahead.

A coach walks with you as you:

• Identify what’s in your control

• Release what’s not

• Let go of what’s holding you back

• Step into the leader you are becoming

When you tie up loose ends with intention, you don’t just finish strong—you start the next season aligned.

Imagine Celebrating the Holidays Feeling Accomplished

Close your eyes and picture it:

• What would it look like to enter the holidays with a sense of completion?

• What would it feel like to celebrate with clarity instead of chaos?

• What would shift for you if you truly paused to do this work?

You deserve that feeling.

Your leadership needs that feeling.

Your future depends on it.