December offers a natural pause between the intensity of the year and the promise of a fresh start, which makes it a powerful month for leaders to step back, tidy up, and set a clear tone for what comes next.
By now, most of the big pushes for the year are either complete or clearly defined, and the calendar is filling with holidays, family plans, and year-end noise. This is exactly when strong leadership matters most: not by adding more, but by focusing on what truly deserves attention in these final weeks.
Three Conversations Before December 31
There are three conversations worth having before the year closes:
- A conversation with yourself: What are you proud of this year, and where did you fall short in a way that teaches you something useful for next year?
- A conversation with your team: What worked, what didn’t, and what do we want to do differently together in the first quarter?
- A conversation with a few key clients or partners: How did we help you this year, and how can we be even more useful next year?
None of these need to be long or formal. Short, honest, and specific usually wins.
A Simple Year-End Checklist
To keep things practical, here are a few areas to review before the lights go out on this year:
- People: Does everyone know where they stand and what success looks like in the first quarter?
- Systems: Are there obvious bottlenecks or recurring headaches you can commit to fixing early next year?
- Numbers: Do you have a clear, current picture of your key metrics so you’re not guessing when you set next year’s targets?
This isn’t about perfection; it’s about entering the new year with fewer surprises and more intention.
Habits, Not Just Goals
Goals for the new year are easy to write and easy to forget. The harder and more valuable work is to look at the habits and routines that actually drive results. James Clear, in Atomic Habits, makes the point that you do not rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems. December is a great time to ask: What small, repeatable behaviors—daily, weekly, monthly—would make next year easier and more successful than this one?
An Invitation
If you’d like help closing the year with clarity, tightening up your leadership habits, or getting your team aligned for a strong start next year—whether you’re in New England, Florida, Texas, or beyond—this is a good moment to talk. A short conversation now can save a lot of spinning wheels in the first quarter.
To your continued growth, and a steady, thoughtful end to the year.
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